Page 100 of Luca
Luca wrapped an arm around my back as my legs gave away. His gaze traveled down my wet legs. The moment he saw blood, panic crept into his expression. But he kept his cool.
“Don’t panic,” he said softly. “Sometimes water breaking is accompanied by bloody show. Or maybe it’s the mucus plug. I read it happens sometimes.” He looked up at Áine. “Go grab a towel,” he demanded.
As she rushed to get it, I scrunched my nose despite the pain. “Where did you read that?”
He grinned. “My all-knowing book,” he murmured as he lifted me up. “I’ve been readingWhat to Expect When Expectingfor months.”
A choked laugh escaped me. “I can’t quite decide if that’s romantic or just weird.”
“Romantic,” he answered, then flicked a glance to his brother and Áine, then Nonno. “I’ll reach out if we need anything. Let her brothers know.”
“Nonno, will you be okay?” I asked him. “Want to come along? Although it won’t be fun.”
Nonno’s wrinkled face softened and he put his frail palm on my cheek.
“I’ll have Cassio bring me when little Penelope is born. This is yours and Luca’s moment.” The lump in my throat grew. “Don’t worry about anything.”
I nodded.
Áine brought the towel just as Luca scooped me up into his arms. She handed it to him and he murmured his thanks, then carried me into the elevator. He was efficient in panic, I’d give him that. We were in his Mercedes G-Benz in no time. He placed the towel down, then gently sat me down in the passenger seat.
“Everything will be okay,” he said as he touched my cheek gently. “We’ll be in the hospital soon.”
“I know.” Now that he was home, I knew he’d ensure we were okay. “Good thing we have our pink Gucci diaper bag in the back,” I teased.
He shook his head, amusement shining in his eyes along with the worry lingering there. He closed the door, and Luca rushed around to slip behind the steering wheel. He revved up the engine and shot out of the underground garage and down the streets of New York.
“I wanted Penelope to be born in Sicily,” I muttered out of nowhere, a dull ache settling somewhere deep between my thighs.
Luca glanced my way.
“Our next baby will be.” His hand reached out and cupped my cheek. “You just make sure you’re okay. You and the baby are all that matter to me.”
There was something close to despair on his face.
I put my own hand over his. “Women have babies every day,” I comforted him. “We’ll be okay. Just–” I swallowed hard. “Just stay with me. Okay?”
“All the king's horses couldn’t pull me away,” he rasped.
We pulled up in front of the hospital entrance. Luca jumped out of the car and jogged around the hood to lift me out. Once in his arms, he strode into the hospital and nurses rushed over to him with a stretcher. Once he’d put me down on it, they rolled me into a room. The doctors and nurses rushed around me. Hooked me up to machines, checked my vitals and before I knew what was going on, I was wheeled away again. Luca stayed with me through it all, holding my hand and whispering comforting words.
We’ve been at it for hours without any progress. Pushing. Crying. More pushing. My cervix wasn’t dilating.
“We need to operate.” That was the first sentence that registered and my eyes filled with panic.
“Luca?” I shook my head. Fear felt like a vice around my throat. “Don’t let anything happen to our baby.”
His eyes narrowed on the doctor and the nurses. “If they want to live, they’ll make sure youandour baby live.”
His growly voice vibrated through the room and everybody instantly stilled. The only noise interrupting the silence was the constantbeep, beep, beepcoming from the machine.
“Right?” he gritted. I almost expected him to pull out a gun and threaten them with what would happen should neither one of us make it. I shouldn’t be okay with it, but it made me feel safer.
Once the doctors and nurses gathered themselves, they all nodded their heads in understanding.
“It appears that the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck. A C-section will ensure both baby and mother are safe,” the doctor assured.
“Where is Dr. Calabro?” I whined. “She might be able to fix it.” The comment made no sense. I sounded like an idiot. Did it stop me? Absolutely not. “She knows our baby better. She knows my private parts better.”
