Chapter 48

It was barely 7 a.m. when Sutton’s phone buzzed on the tray beside her hospital bed.

She hadn’t slept the whole night. Even though she was on pain meds, every time she shifted in her sleep, the pain woke her.

Luca was asleep in the chair beside her, long legs stretched out, head tilted toward her but not quite resting. He’d refused to leave, and sometime after midnight, one of the overnight nurses had pulled in a cot, only for him to ignore it in favor of staying closer.

The phone buzzed again. Then again. Wishing now they hadn’t charged it last night, but it could be one of her sisters. Though she didn’t think they would call at this time in the morning.

Sutton rubbed her face with one hand and grabbed it with the other, careful not to wake him. Her fingers were stiff, but she managed to swipe the screen open.

UNKNOWN CALLER

She hesitated for a moment but answered.

“Hello?”

There was a pause. Then a voice, ever so eager.

“Sutton Warner