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 on?” Her son was in danger,

but she saw guilt flicker across

“Sutton-”

said it was security. I thought-” she trailed off, heart hammering. “I thought it was

his

what the hell Nicole

called after she saw us in the

“What?”

didn’t want it to reach you.” He kept his voice low. “Nicole is still under psychiatric care, but we could not legally detain her any longer. She has to report to the police station every day. She’s made threats. I was worried about you and Miles.

tried

don’t know how close she got,” he said quickly. “My man lost Irer

to show him

didn’t think I deserved to know that?” she asked, voice harder now. “You kept me unaware that my son could be in danger, and you didn’t

surgery. You were emotionally wrecked,” he said, jaw

is handling it?” she snapped. “You think keeping me in the dark is protecting me?

nearly died giving birth. You’re healing. You’re pumping milk and trying

both.”

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

back of her neck, pulling her to him,

The breath was knocked out of her for a second before she even realized they had gone from arguing

a second and laughed. “This hissy

again.

her jaw while his other curved around her waist, pulling her toward him. She gasped against his mouth, fists pressed to his chest, her fury flooding with need and heartbreak

was breathless, but so was he. So she didn’t feel

it: “This is what I do best, Sutton. I keep the people I love safe. You

of you.”

still

just withheld. It was to buy you

don’t get to decide what’s too much

do. But just in this, I needed to give you the chance to breathe without another landmine under

she always found when it came to Luca De Santis. He could be an arrogant son of a bitch… but she did

hand down her face. “So she is

“Absolutely.”