Page 44 of Pretty Little Disaster

“My dad, Nic. He was tapping at the glass, he wanted me to go with him and then he was…. He’s dead.” My lips quiver as I try to explain.

“It’s okay. I’m here.” Nic drags me onto his chest and holds me tight, kissing the top of my head despite all the blood I’m covered in.

“Just breathe for me, you have to keep breathing, Lorna.” He takes out his phone and presses it to his ear.

“Dario, we’ve got a problem. I need to catch the jet back home with Lorna, right now. Can we meet at your place?” I don’t hear what Dario says back but I assume he must have questions.

“Doyle was here, and he’s dead,” he explains, hanging up the phone and turning his attention back to me.

“Whose Doyle?” I ask as he grabs my case and starts throwing my things inside it.

A loud scream comes from outside and when Cass bursts through the glass doors, tangling herself up in the curtains, she’s quickly followed by the boys, who both look white.

“There’s a dead man out there!” Cass covers her mouth with her hands.

“Looks like he’s been shot in the fucking head.” Wes glances back out the doors toward the body of my father.

“He was.” Nic continues to get mine and his stuff together.

“I never heard any gunshots.” Jonah looks confused as well as shaken.

“That’s because he was killed by a professional.” Nic is still in full action- mode as he explains, and when he pulls a gun out from his own bag, all my friends look unnerved.

“What the hell is going on?” Cass asks, sounding scared.

“You think the hit was meant for you? I mean that’s some real James Bond shit. Who evenisthat guy?” Wes asks

“My father.” I hear my own voice come out weak and feeble. Nic wraps his arm around me as he leads me toward the hall and stops in front of Cass.

“Call this number, a guy who can deal with this will be here in less than an hour. Donotcall the police,” he tells her firmly, pointing his finger in her face.

“This is a murder scene, I have to call the police,” she argues back.

“It won’t be once our guy’s finished. Call him then go to one of the bedrooms and lock the door. I’ll send the jet back for you in a few hours when I know this place is cleaned up.” He pulls another gun from his bag and glances between Wes and Jonah.

“Fuck.” He shakes his head before reluctantly handing it to Wes.

“Wait, you're trustinghimto protect us?” Cass looks confused.

“He’s the only one ballsy enough to shoot it,” Nic tells her, and when me and Cass both look at Jonah, he shrugs his shoulders and offers no argument.

“You shoot one of these before?” Nic checks.

“Does he look like he has?” Cass points out. “And why do we have to stay here with the body?”

“You flick the safety off first, point, and pull the trigger. Make sure you get a good aim,” Nic explains to Wes before turning to Cass.

“I need you to stay here because that man was Lorna’s father and, whoever did this to him, might want to hurt her too. Someone has to stay here and make sure this gets cleaned up, and someone has to make my girl safe. I don’t trust anyone but myself to do the latter,” he explains.

“I don’t work for the Mafia, Nic.” Cass looks at him firmly. “I don’t have to clean up your problem.”

“This isn’t his problem, Cass. It’s mine,” I speak up, even though I feel the walls closing in on me. “He came here to find me.” I start to sob and when Nic places his arm around me, I notice the way Cass looks up at him and nods.

“And what exactly am I shooting at?” Wes asks before we make it out the door.

“It’s just a precaution, whoever did this is probably long gone,” Nic assures him.

“But?” Jonah adds as if he can sense Nic isn’t finished.

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