It was almost six when Sutton walked out of Cyber10 that afternoon. She’d stayed later than she meant to, tinkering with firewall patches before locking her machine. Her body was already objecting to the long day in her chair; her lower back was aching. Her breasts made a silent bid for escape, it had been a good day. HR had sent an email around to all staff letting them know Sutton had taken the role.

She felt one part pride, two parts absolute terror.

The air outside was a little chilly as she made her way over to David. He was in his usual spot across the street, leaning against the gleaming black car. He

waved to her in welcome.

“Long day?” he asked as she approached.

“Long week,” she said, adjusting the bag strap that was cutting into her shoulder. “But it’s finally done. I just accepted a new role at work. So it should be interesting over the next few weeks. But I have to say after this week, I’m glad it’s Friday and the only thing I have to worry about this weekend is getting out of the bath.”

He smiled, opening the rear door with a nod of approval. “Congratulations,

1. MS.

Warner. On the new job.”

“Thanks,” she said, shifting her weight carefully from one leg to the other. Her ankles felt full and tight. “Let me just stretch my back for a sec before getting in. I have been sitting all day.” She stood right near the rear door of the car, making sure she wasn’t in anyone’s way..

She turned slightly, twisting left and right, a motion that had become more necessary every day. The tension in her spine gave way with a quiet pop, and she exhaled. That was better.

It happened fast.

The spinning whir of tires, the angry shout of someone yelling “Yo! Out of the way!” She had no time to turn before something plowed hard into her back.

The impact threw her forward before her legs could rebalance.

Her body jerked sideways.

And then down.

Her hands shot outward but missed the ground. Her bag slid off her shoulder. She slammed onto the concrete hard, her full weight landing on her left side, hitting hard on her hip, shoulder, ribs and then, with a deep cry, her belly.

Pain tore through her side. Not a dull pain, but sharp and immediate, white–hot. It sucked the sound out of her ears for a second.

A voice shouted, “Shit! Oh, my

Someone else screamed.

God!”

She heard running footsteps. She couldn’t see; her eyes were shut tight from pain and shock. Who the hell had just slammed into her?

David’s voice was somewhere close and very loud. She could hear the

worry in his voice. “Ms. Warner? Ms. Warner!”

She tried to respond. Her mouth opened, but instead of a word, a sob came out. Her knees pulled up instinctively, but her stomach curdled in protest. Pressure bloomed low in her abdomen–it was wrong and terrifying. And it was wet.

Under her fingertips, she felt something slick on the sidewalk.

Blood. Oh no, God. Please don’t let anything happen to her baby.

Everything in her brain tilted sideways. Nothing made full sense anymore, but the fear settled in fast.

MUZ

Chapter 134.

The baby. The baby. The baby.

Her arms wrapped across her bump before her brain even gave the signal. Her eyes blinked rapidly, trying to stay sharp. But she could feel blackness pushing in from the sides of her eyes. She could not pass out.

People were crowding around. A woman knelt beside her, pressing something soft. Sutton thought it was a thick scarf,

maybe under her head. “Stay with us, sweetheart. Don’t move. Help’s coming, okay? You’re doing great. Just stay awake.” 

Was the woman worried that she had hit her head? Right now Sutton didn’t care about her head, just her baby.

Sutton tried to focus on the woman’s words, but her eyelids were heavy.

She heard someone… David, possibly on the phone.

“She’s pregnant. Yes. Third trimester. Just seven months. She hit the sidewalk hard. Side injuries, she’s bleeding. She’s awake but… a messenger on his bike hit her pretty hard.”

A pause. Then he said in a harsh tone. “Just get here.”

It was after that she heard Luca’s voice.

Not in person. On speaker. Distant but rough, with barely concealed panic.

“Let me talk to her, please. David, put me on. Don’t leave her.”

Then his voice was closer, louder.

“Sutton? Can you hear me?”

She could. Barely. His voice sounded as if he were underwater. Because she was

in

SO

much pain and scared.

“I’m coming,” he said. “I’m on my way. You will be okay. You’re not alone. Just breathe, baby. Please. I’m on the way to the hospital now. I’ll meet you

there.”

She wanted to tell him she knew everything was going to be okay.

But her body had other plans.

Something inside her clenched again. Harder that time. No movement. Not a kick.

A pain so deep it coiled in her belly, making her cry out.

With it followed another pulse of wetness between her legs.

Then she was aware of another voice. It took her a moment to realize… it was a paramedic. She was overwhelmed with the surrounding sounds, radio chatter, rising sirens, voices all blending together.

“Make room, people… pregnant female, unknown abdominal injuries, possible placental abruption.” The two EMTs talked between themselves, or were they informing the hospital?

That word “abruption” hit her like another blow. The one she’d read in pregnancy forums she’d sworn to stop torturing herself with. She knew this wasn’t good.

“Are you the partner or husband?” someone asked. She was guessing it was David they asked.

“No. Her partner is on his way to the hospital. He had a meeting across town. Name’s Luca De Santis. This is Miss Sutton Warner.”

The EMT crouched lower. “Okay, Sutton. We’re going to get you onto the stretcher. I need you to stay awake if you can, alright?”

She nodded, but it cost her.

The edges of the world were hazy now. The sirens weren’t just approaching, they were here, and the siren was cut off. Thank God. She could see tan more EMTS move to where someone else lay on the ground. Was that the person who had hit her, or was it someone else?

Straps clicked around her thighs. Hands lifted her on three.

The sky overhead was darkening. Pain laced across her stomach.

Dávid was still there beside the gurney, phone pressed to his ear. “He’s about fifteen minutes out. She’s going to Lenox Hill A private room is being prepped. He said…” His voice caught, just barely. “He said not to let her be alone. He will be there soon.”

She closed her eyes for one second. Just one.

Sirens ripped through the air again.

The stretcher bumped against the sidewalk edge.

And then everything went black and silent.

1

AD

Comment