Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 146

Sutton cried the moment she stepped out of the NICU. She was crying because she was leaving Miles in the hospital while she went home, She didn‘ care that it was only temporary. Her arms felt wrong without him in them. Even though she hadn’t been with him all night, it still felt wrong somehow,

She knew he was safe and well fed. Monitored around the clock, supported by more machines and sensors and trained professionals. The NICU nurses. knew her by name. They adored Miles.

And yet–it still felt like she was walking away from her heart.

She pressed one hand to her chest as she returned to her room to gather the last of her things. Luca had left her a few minutes ago to talk to Antonio, who was seeing their father. Sutton had already been in to see Nick.

A nurse smiled gently, not asking why she was crying. They always knew.

“You’ll be back tomorrow,” the nurse said softly, folding Sutton’s discharge papers into a folder with the hospital logo.

“I know,” Sutton whispered. “I just… I don’t know how to go home without him.”

“You go knowing he is getting the best of care,” the nurse said kindly, “and you need to take care of mum now. And sleeping in a hospital is never the best rest. That’s what keeps you both strong.”

It wasn’t enough. But it was what she had.

Outside her room, Luca was pacing near the window, his phone pressed to his ear, back turned to her. He wasn’t speaking loudly, but his voice was low and firm. He was distracted, focused on whoever was on the other end of the phone. She paused in the doorway, suitcase handle in hand.

“Yes… double rotation. I don’t care if the hospital already screens employees. I want our people inside the NICU too, t just the hall. I want eyes specifically on the pediatric floor.” A pause. “Yes, Miles. He’s the priority… no access unless approved.”

Sutton’s blood chilled.

What the hell?

She stepped forward slowly, her breath caught in her throat.

Luca didn’t notice her yet. Still facing the window, phone clutched in his hand, his other hand resting flat on the glass as he spoke calmly but with

urgency.

“And make sure you keep her photo circulated. If anyone resembling her gets within two floors of that wing… I want to be alerted. Immediately.”

Photo? Of her?

Her stomach sank with understanding. Nicole.

Luca hung up.

controlled. “What’s going

startled… but she saw guilt flicker across his

“Sutton-”

security. I thought-” she trailed off, heart hammering. “I thought it was for the media. But it’s not

his

what the hell Nicole

stepping forward. “She called after she

“What?”

to report to the police station every day. She’s made threats. I was worried about you and Miles. The press stirred everything up. I have someone trailing her. She came to

breath caught. “She tried to get into

know how close she got,” he said quickly. “My man lost Irer for a few minutes before she reappeared

stunned to show him

kept me unaware that my son could be in

were already recovering from surgery. You were emotionally wrecked,” he said, jaw

me in the dark is protecting

you were going through enough,” Luca snapped back, stepping toward her now, eyes sharp. “You nearly died giving birth. You’re healing. You’re pumping milk and trying to spend every spare second with our son.” His voice strained. “I didn’t want

both.”

are!” she shouted. “The reality crashed into me anyway, didn’t it? I just left my baby in a hospital room, and now you’re telling me the woman who hates me and tried to sabotage my life is trying to get near him?

back of her neck, pulling

of her for a second before she even realized they had gone from arguing

but he pulled back for a second and laughed. “This

again.

other curved around her waist, pulling her toward him. She gasped against his mouth, fists pressed to his chest, her

breathless, but so was he. So she

was hoarse when he said it: “This is what I do best, Sutton. I keep the people I love safe. You were

of you.”

were glassy, still angry. “That

withheld. It was

pressed her fingers to her temples, stepping back “You don’t get to decide what’s too much for me or

gentling. “I do. But just in this, I needed to give you the chance to breathe without another landmine under your feet. I was going to tell

came to Luca De Santis. He could be an arrogant son

ran a hand down her face.

“Absolutely.”