Chapter 136

Chapter 136

The surgical waiting room was quiet again now, save for the occasional shuffle of a nurse’s sneakers passing by the open door. Keira was curled in a chair cradling a cup of coffee. Luca figured it would be stone cold by now. Blair sat cross–legged by the window, thumbing through a magazine on her lap, but the way she wasn’t spending any time on each page, he doubted she was even reading it.

Roman sat beside her, his hand rubbing up and down her back as he checked his watch again.

Luca’s phone buzzed in his lap.

Nick De Santis’s name showed on the screen. Luca stared at it for a beat, thumb hesitating above the screen..

Of all the moments for his father to call!

For one brief second, he thought about letting it ring out, telling himself he would call back later. After Sutton woke up. After he saw the baby. After he knew they would both be okay.

But it wasn’t just Sutton lying unconscious in recovery. He still hadn’t been allowed to see her.

It was also Nick’s grandson in that NICU.

And if–God willing… Sutton didn’t hate him when this was all over, maybe Nick’s daughter–in–law too.

He swiped to answer.

“Ciao, Papa.”

“Luca,” Nick’s voice sounded clearer than expected.

Luca closed his eyes briefly and leaned forward in the chair.

He was bracing himself to tell his father what had happened, but before he could speak, his father went on.

“We are here. At JFK. Just landed.”

Luca’s eyes snapped open. “Wait. What?”

Antonio’s voice piped in faintly in the background. “We’re still waiting on Bella’s suitcase… they lost it.”

“We?” Luca said, chest already tightening.

Nick grunted. “Yes, we… your brother, Bella, and me. We came to meet Sutton. Your fiancée. We wanted to surprise you.”

Luca didn’t speak for a full second. Sutton wasn’t his fiancée yet.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, inhaled through gritted teeth.

“Papa, why the hell would you travel all the way here without telling me? You had a heart attack a few months ago.”

Nick gave an exhausted sigh, the kind built exclusively by disappointment carried over multiple generations. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not supposed to be flying yet.”

from me, Luca? We are De Santis men. We don’t sit still. The doctor cleared me for travel. I figured it was time to meet this model you

Luca winced.

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Chapter 136

father’s look: the dismissiveness, the tight line of his mouth that always said, ‘I know what’s best, and it’s hot

chosen.’

don’t trust a woman who runs. But she is

Luca’s stomach rolled.

whispered, voice

“What?”

“She’s in the hospital.”

Silence.

Outside my building. A cyclist hit her. She fell, and they rushed

saying?” Nick’s voice dropped, quieter but more

NICU. He came early. Not even thirty weeks. They both made it

voice now clear in the background. “The

to the hospital,” Luca murmured, though he was anything but calm.

“The GPS on my phone says forty–four minutes. We have Bella’s case now, but we would have

staring down at

looked over. “Your father

nodded numbly. “They’re on their way here. Surprise

“You okay?”

Luca answered honestly. “No,

the lobby and spotted the three of them moving through the revolving door, which meant he’d timed

they adjusted the walk to him. His grip on the handle of his cane was firm. His tailored suit jacket was a size too big now. The doctors had told him to lose weight after his surgery. But he still held the air of a noble Italian with a long family tree that made him proud. Seeing Antonio beside Bella, Luca briefly wondered if his brother had figured out love

started across the tiled floor and met

sized him up, one brow slightly

you really surprised?”

Luca forward and resting a

anything about Luca loving Sutton—maybe because, during their last conversation, Luca had claimed he was marrying her for the

found out.

it in him

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Chapter 136

them silent… until Nick suddenly slowed. Luca turned

a look of pain crossed his aging face. Then he pressed his hand into his chest harder. He stopped

“Dad?” Antonio asked.

other hand up to his chest. The cane he had been holding was forgotten as it clattered to the floor. The gasp he let out was sharp before

was there in two strides;

come on!” Luca felt his own heart stop knowing

and Antonio caught him under the arms before he could hit the hard

listen. His voice cut across space, loud and

“What happened?” Someone asked.

he yelled out. “We need help now.” He was not going to spend time answering stupid

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