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.

and only slightly controlled. “What’s going on?” Her son was in danger,

saw guilt flicker across

“Sutton-”

thought it was for the media. But it’s not the press you’re

opened his

me what

forward. “She called after she saw us in

“What?”

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. The press

caught. “She tried to get into Miles’s

“My man lost Irer for a few minutes before she reappeared on

to show him how pissed she

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 say

already recovering from surgery. You were emotionally wrecked,” he said, jaw tightening. “And I

think not telling me is handling it?” she snapped. “You think keeping me in the dark is protecting me? My son could

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.”

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? God, Luca, how dare you decide what I can and

grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her to

for a second before she even realized they had gone

“This hissy fit you’re having is

again.

She gasped against his mouth, fists pressed to his chest, her fury flooding with need and heartbreak and more than a

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

keep the

of you.”

still angry. “That doesn’t

rasped. “I just withheld. It was to buy

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

this, I needed to give you the chance to breathe without another landmine under your feet. I was going to tell you tonight.

angry. But beneath the fire, there was what she always found when it came to Luca De Santis. He could be an arrogant son of

ran a hand down her face. “So she

“Absolutely.”