Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 135

Chapter 135

Sutton drifted between layers of dim sound and raw pain. It was too much. It was like her body no longer belonged to her it throbbed. It putsed, uchod in strange places. Hands touched her everywhere… her stomach, her face, her arms. The back of her head. Voices moved over her like waves. She didn’t even know if she could answer if they asked her any questions.

“BP’s dropping… get fluids going, now!”

“The OB team is on their way.”

“She’s around twenty–eight weeks? Okay, prep for fetal distress protocol and call neonatal. Possible placental abruption on impact.”

The ER was manic. So much noise, so much rapid motion.

She felt herself slipping again… but then… a voice.

Deeper than the rest. “Where is she? Where is Sutton Warner?”

It penetrated the darkness in her head. Luca.

“I’m here,” he said. His hand found hers. It was warm. His lips touched her hairline. “I’m here, Sutton. I’ve got you, okay? I’ve got you. Just stay awake. Please, baby.”

She tried to blink. Her eyes wouldn’t cooperate, but her fingers twitched faintly against his palm.

A doctor spoke over her head. “Sir, are you family?”

Luca didn’t hesitate. “I’m her fiancé. I’m the father of the baby.”

“Okay, we need you to fill out some paperwork.”

“You save her,” Luca said, his voice hard now, cutting through the room like glass cracking. “If it comes to a choice… you save Sutton. Do you understand me?”

E

“We may have to deliver the baby early. The baby is viable… The NICU team can prepare for a preterm birth, but if there are complications with the mother…”

“You save her,” Luca repeated, quieter this time. Less forceful, but somehow more final. “Whatever it takes. Please.”

Sutton heard every word. Not clearly, not in full… but enough.

Enough for a sob to get caught in her throat, unspoken.

She wanted to tell him she’d be okay. That he didn’t have to choose. Because she would choose her baby, and it was her choice.

But she couldn’t speak. Her mind fuzzed over. Light faded.

And then nothing.

Luca stood rooted at Sutton’s bedside as they rushed her down the hall, the sound of wheels spinning over linoleum marking the fastest goodbye he’d never wanted to say.

She was whisked into an emergency surgical suite, the doors swinging shut behind them before he could breathe in or out.

One nurse had placed a hand on his chest when he’d tried to follow.

“Sir, please… you have to wait here.”

Chapter 135

hall, He looked down at his hand, still feeling the imprint of her still

him

phone buzzed in his

He answered. “Yeah.”

Roman’s voice was tight. Controlled. “Jake just told me. Is

been in a meeting. He had

think there might be a placental abruption. Internal bleeding.

the…

“No idea yet.”

to figure

you?”

blocks away. I’m with Keira

Luca swallowed hard. “Okay.”

be

His knees buckled slightly and caught just shy

a pediatric surgeon calling for extra hands. But Sutton was in danger and he couldn’t be there. He had also made a decision that she could hate him for. But he

Sutton.

His Sutton.

never want to see him again. If it saved her life, it was a risk he

told them

what that meant. He knew what

regret a single

would the world even be without her

part of him ached

He’d wanted their child.

So damn much.

right arm while Sutton slept, whispering ridiculous things to him

to choose, there had never really been

His eyes burned.

Chapter 135

doors down, a NICU team rolled an incubator out of storage into one

had said survivable. It was hard. But

“De Santis?”

like he’d been

the tiny tubes, the oxygen

from earlier gestured toward the wall. “There’s a private family room down

to know the second

“You will. I promise.”

I see my

You’ll have to wait to

He had a little

her to the room but didn’t sit. Instead, he stood by the window overlooking the street below and tried desperately not to think about the

ago. His mother in surgery. He was fifteen. No one had told him his mother wouldn’t wake up. They’d let him believe she’d be fine.

was on the other side of surgical doors, and

matter what. If it comes down to it,

creaked open

He turned.