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’t 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 do
Nick stood just outside the NICU, staring through the glass. Luca was beside him, one hand lightly resting on his father’s back.Sutton watched from inside the room, already scrubbed, her gown tied behind her back. She’d been sitting beside Miles for nearly an hour, skin-to-skin, his impossibly small head tucked beneath her chin, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his breath. Her son. Her sweet miracle.A nurse gave the signal and waved them in.Luca pushed the door open, and Nick followed him in slowly, cautious courtesy in every footstep. His cane tapped lightly on the vinyl floor.The room was kept warm and dim for the babies. Monitors beeped softly, a mechanical heartbeat winding through wires and plastic tubing. Miles stirred gently in Sutton’s arms but didn’t wake.Nick stopped a few feet away, clearly unsure of the space.Sutton looked up and smiled. “He’s fragile,” she said quietly. “And he is small… But Luca will tell you he is a fighter.”That made Nick smile faintly, ey
“Papa.”She turned to face Luca when she heard his voice.She had expected to see Luca with his father, sort of bracing herself to meet the man who hadn’t wanted her in his son’s life. What she hadn’t expected…was that he’d be alone and staring directly at the man beside her.The man with the cane.The man she’d just spent the last few minutes chatting with.Her breath caught as realization finally settled in.“Oh, you’re Luca’s father.”Nick arched one amused brow at her. “You didn’t know? Does my son not take after his old man?”Sutton’s face flushed.“No. I didn’t know.”She turned fully toward him now, awkwardly rising from the bench. “I… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”Nick waved a hand easily, still seated. “Don’t be silly. You were kind, and you should never be embarrassed about being kind.”He reached for his cane and used it to leverage himself upright. Luca stepped forward quickly, automatically steadying him with a light touch, one hand on his father’s elbow.Nick shook hi
One week later, Sutton was losing her damn mind.“How are you doing today, Miss Warner?” the nurse chirped as she passed by.“Still trapped in this hospital, no offense,” Sutton muttered with a smile that was at least 20% sincere. “But thank you for asking. Do we know when the doctor is likely to release me?”The nurse chuckled. “Bedrest’s been lifted. That counts as parole. The doctor should be around at 11am or so.”“No,” Sutton called after her softly. “Parole at least means you get to go home.” 11am or so could mean more like 1 or 2pm. One thing Sutton had found out since being here, doctors had their own timetable.In truth, things were improving.Her pain had eased, the bruising was fading, and though her energy wasn’t all there yet… she could stand. Walk without help. Use the bathroom without help, praising whatever gods saw fit to deliver small mercies. They hadn’t needed to take her stitches out because the doctor had used dissolvable ones that take from three to six weeks to
Luca didn’t move for a full hour after Sutton drifted back to sleep. She had gone to sleep soon after coming back from meeting the press. He really should go and see his father. He had been getting regular updates from his brother and had gone to see his father last night, but he had been asleep.Her hand was still curled loosely in his, her breathing soft and even, and it was the only sound he wanted to hear for the rest of his life.He sat on the side of her bed and just watched her.Her lashes fluttered once, but she didn’t wake. Her mouth was slightly parted, and her hand would occasionally shift on the blanket, twitching. In sleep, she looked like herself again, only she was no longer pregnant.And for the hundredth time, Luca felt it like a punch to the ribs: He could’ve lost her and their son Miles.He hated to think what could have happened if the messenger had pushed her into traffic instead of just onto the footpath. He was still pissed that the police were unable to charge t
Her sisters and Roman had left before the fireworks. Sutton was glad Keira had been fuming mad. It was late morning by the time the hospital chief of staff left the room.Or rather, backed out with a pale face and a panicked promise to “get to the bottom of this.” Luca hadn’t raised his voice; he hadn’t needed to. His tone had been low and cold and lethal, making sure every word landed.“If I find out that even one person… nurse, administrator, janitor sold Sutton’s information to the press, not only will we sue for every fucking dollar of damages, I will make sure they never speak to anyone ever again,” he told them.Then, when the man fumbled some excuse about patient access and systems vulnerabilities, Luca simply said “You'd better find out who leaked her story before I do. Because it’s your hospital, the cost won’t just be financial. I’ll make sure you can’t even get a job washing toilets. Do I make myself clear?”And that was it. The door clicked shut. The chief shuffled away.S