Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 138

He sat in a hard plastic chair beside her bed, elbow resting on the edge of the mattress, his fingers wrapped around her wrist as if it were made of delicate glass. It was morning, and he hadn’t slept at all. Roman had dropped clothes off, and the nurses had let him use the shower in Sutton’s private room they had moved her to around eleven last night.

Luca hadn’t left her for more than a few minutes; he could

He was so worried that if he turned his back on her for even one second, she might disappear. He could not lose her again. Even though he hadn’t realized he was in love with her the first time, he had still felt the loss of her when she had left. It was only then that he started to understand what she had truly meant to him. It hadn’t been a lightbuth moment at first; he had told himself it was the baby. But he had only been fooling himself.

Sutton stirred; at first, it was just a twitch of her fingers. Then, ther

was a deep indrawn breath.

Luca leaned closer. He watched as her eyelashes fluttered.

She blinked once, twice. Then looked at him through heavy lids.

“Hey,” she whispered; her voice didn’t sound like her. Not surprisin with what she had been through.

But seeing her awake and alive was like the biggest gift

of

all,

This was the most conscious she had been since she had been brought in. Last night, she barely mustered the strength to check on the baby.

He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles without answering.

She moved slightly, then flinched.

“You are going to be in pain if you move, so take it easy,” he murmured. “Don’t push.”

She gave a slow, drowsy blink in response and tried to wet her lips. “The baby?”

“He’s okay,” Luca said with a small nod. “He’s small, Sutton… but he’s here. Breathing. Alive. He’s on a ventilator, and he’s surrounded by the best team looking after him, but… he’s here. He’s loud, actually. Even for a little guy.”

He hadn’t been allowed to hold him. Instead, he had slipped his arms into the side of the incubator and held his son’s tiny hand. But Blair and Keira had checked with him to see if he was alright with them seeing the baby. He was glad they had offered and asked. They had all gone through so much since last night, and he could feel the strain between him and Keira had lifted. They all loved Sutton and now the baby.

Her mouth barely bent into a smile. “You saw him?”

“Earlier this morning. Finally got the okay from the NICU. I wasn’t prepared.” He rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand, slower now. “He’s so damn tiny. But perfect. He grabbed my finger like he had something to prove.”

up in her eyes at

before speaking again. “They said he’s strong. He is doing

swallowed hard. “What’s

them I couldn’t name him without you. I

nodded just a small movement. He could see that their exchange had drained her

her strength. She looked at him again after a

heard you,”

Luca blinked. “When?”

the ER. When they brought

need

but had feared her finding out by

eyes misting again, blinking at the ceiling like it might give

save me,” she said quietly. “Even if it meant

made his

didn’t change. But a wave of something thick rolled

“I did,” he admitted.

just tired. As if she didn’t have the energy to make her facial muscles work. The painkillers would be helping. “That… it wouldn’t have been my

dropped heavily. Luca was waiting for her next words. Telling him to

know,” he whispered, finally meeting her eyes.

for a

I didn’t want him,” Luca said. “And it wasn’t made easily, Sutton. I

said, her

hands. “I can’t imagine

slipping down the side

grief in your voice before I blacked out.

didn’t want you to

“I’m glad I did.”

Luca’s brows pulled together.

I’d hate you for it,” she

didn’t answer.

chair, leaned forward, and

I’d gone too far. Maybe I didn’t have the right. That I’d ma selfish choice. That you’d wake up and

turned her face toward his hand, her temple just

“I don’t.”

He looked up.

voice was a whisper, but there was no hesitation in it. “I

He swallowed hard.