Page 131 of Highball and Chain

Shanna

Three Months Later

Hildie was right.It had only taken a moment to fall in love with Enzo. However, she didn’t tell me until a few weeks later that it took much longer to build a life together.

I’d moved in with Enzo days after Tara testified against the Abruzzos. While the other families demanded Sophia and her henchmen return to Sicily, they’d yet to make a decision regarding a punishment for Joe and Rebecca’s murder. Three months had passed, and the place finally felt like home. However, it would take much longer for either of us to stop looking over our shoulders for the bad guys. Until the heads of the mob families doled out justice, the Abruzzos remained a threat.

The bells at Saint Louis Cathedral chimed seven times, and I felt every one of them in my bones. I had minutes before guests would arrive to celebrate Enzo’s birthday. Thankfully, I had a team to help me pull off the party.

Maggie rounded the corner carrying a tray of bacon-wrapped scallops. “Where do you want these?”

“Beside the gumbo, and for Pete’s sake, don’t carry anything else or you’ll go into labor.” I took a final look at the decorations on the courtyard. I’d worried over every choice, from the balloons to the color of the tablecloths. I wanted everything to be perfect.

“I’m not due for another month. Besides, even if I did go into labor, it’d take hours before I needed to go to the hospital.” She rested her hand on her watermelon-sized belly.

Hildie stepped outside. “Everything looks wonderful. You’ve outdone yourself.”

“Thank you. Now all we need is the guests to arrive before the birthday boy.”

The doorbell rang.

I smoothed my black sheathe dress over my hips, drew a deep breath, and opened the door.

Chloe and Ryan ran inside, followed by Zach and a girl I hadn’t met.

“Shanna, this is Sam. My girlfriend.” The teen’s ears turned red.

“Nice to meet you, Sam.” That’s new. I glanced back at Maggie.

“They grow up so fast.” She stared after the young couple and sighed. “Where’s Gabe?”

“I’m here.” He held Ella, his nine-month-old daughter, out in front of him with both hands. Unlike her father, the baby cooed and smiled. “Could I borrow one of Enzo’s shirts? She puked on mine.”

I tilted my head and studied his black button-down. “Where?”

He turned. A long line of wet white goo stretched from his shoulder to his waistband.

“Yuck. Yeah, go ahead.” I might have bent my views on marriage when Enzo had crashed into my life, but kids were another matter altogether.

Maggie hurried to him as fast as a woman carrying a nearly fully formed human being inside her could. “I’ll take her. Go. Enzo will be here soon, and we have to hide.”

Gabe handed the baby to her, kissed her cheek, and started unbuttoning his shirt on the way to the bedroom.

Dante, the youngest of the Marchionnis, arrived next. Rather than knocking, he opened the door and strode inside with his arms wide. “Shanna, good to see you.”

“Thanks.” I drew him into an embrace and froze.

Evelyn walked in behind her son. She raised her chin, glanced around the room, and frowned.

I’d had no idea she’d left Sicily. Her presence filled me with dread and a million questions, none of which she’d likely answer.

Thankfully, Marco came in behind her. He and Nico had been staying at Jack’s place in the bayou for two months, but he’d returned to the Quarter once a week to handle Marchionni Corp business.

Marco draped his arm over his mother’s shoulder. “Lighten up, Ma. It’s a party.”

“There are no decorations, no food, nothing.”

“Ma, go look outside.” Marco glanced at me and rolled his eyes.

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