Page 76 of Psycho

“It’s too early.” I gasped when the contraction ended and I could breathe again, “She’s not due yet.”

“She’s going to be just fine,” He laid his forehead against mine and took a deep breath, so I’d mimic him in the moment of relief. “We’re having a daughter.”

Sobs wracked my body as grief of the entire situation overwhelmed me. “It’s not supposed to be like this.” I cried harder. “What if something is wrong with her?”

“We’ll figure it out when she’s born.” He stated firmly, reminding me of the task at hand. “Let’s get her out and we can go from there.”

“Ow.” I cried, laying my head back against the pillow and arching into the pain as the same overwhelming feeling of bearing down overcame me. “Ow. Ow. Ow.” I whimpered and then did as Maddox said and used the contraction to work with me instead of against me.

And then I fucking pushed.

I curled my chin to my chest and silently put all of my energy into the push and felt my daughter be born as Maddox encouraged me and talked us both through it all.

As soon as she was born, it felt as if the pain had just stopped. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes, watching as Maddox scooped her up in his arms, tipping her on her side and rubbing his massive hand over her back.

“Madd.” I whispered as our daughter remained silent and still, cradled in his hands that just murdered numerous men to save us both. “Madd.” I sat up higher and stared at her, holding my breath, waiting for her to take her first one. “Madd.”

Tamen rushed back into the room, with an arm full of towels, and Dane followed him, but they both froze, staring at the unmoving infant in Maddox’s arms. “Maddox.” Dane walked forward, sliding his hand into mine and squeezing it tight as we all stared at her. “What do you need?”

“I don’t know.” Maddox replied, rubbing his hand up and down our daughter’s back, concentrated and fixated on her limp body as Tamen handed him towels to wrap her up in. “She needs to breathe. She just needs to breathe.” The three of them worked together silently as I felt like my heart stopped in my chest, unwilling to beat until I knew if hers did.

I couldn’t breathe again until I knew she did.

God, she was so tiny. Too tiny.

“Maddox.” I whispered, almost silently. As if that one word was the only one I knew anymore. The only word that would get me what I needed most.

Dane took a towel and rolled it up, pressing it to my chest over the wound and kneeled on the bed beside me, supporting my body against his as Maddox started patting her on the back, rolled over face down in his hand as he progressively increased the pressure he put into each pat.

And then—her arms flailed at her side and a piercing cry echoed from her new lungs, making us all draw a breath for the first time.

Collectively, all three men gasped and their shoulders sagged in relief as I reached for my daughter, taking her as Maddox cradled her against my chest. “Oh, my god.” I cried, staring down at my beautiful daughter for the first time and feeling so incredibly unworthy of her as she screamed bloody murder, swinging her fists wildly as her bottom lip trembled with indignation. “Hi, baby.”

“Holy fuck.” Tamen stared at her, frozen still at the side of the bed. “I can’t believe that just happened.”

“Fuck off.” Maddox shoved him away toward the door and blocked my exposed body with his hulking frame. “Go get my truck.”

“Yeah,” Tamen moved in a daze, with eyes wide like saucers as he left the room, lighting up a cigarette as he walked out. “Got it.”

I looked up at Maddox as he leaned down to kiss my forehead and ran his fingers over our daughter’s furrowed brow. “You’re incredible, Storm. I’ve never been so in awe of someone as I am of you.”

“I can’t believe she’s here.” I whispered, looking back down at our daughter, “I can’t believe I just gave birth in a room filled with serial killers.”

Dane snorted and took Maddox’s hand to hold the towel against my collarbone. “You’re lucky you just gave birth to myfirst niece, or I might take offence at such a ridiculous and childish title.”

I smiled and then froze. “Peyton.” I stared up at him questioningly. “Is she—is she alive?”

He gave me a small grin, but it was weak as he nodded. “She’s alive. But she hasn’t woken up since they took her to surgery.” Not once had I ever seen Dane look so broken as he spoke those words, and my heart ached for my sister and her lost husband. “They said it takes time sometimes.”

I turned my face to Maddox, “I need to see her.” Panic overwhelmed me as I felt her absence in the room like a fire against the soles of my feet. “I have to go to her.”

Maddox nodded his head, kissing mine again. “Let’s go, but we’re going to get you seen and treated first.”

“Madd, no!” I brushed him off and then winced as another wave of pain hit my stomach when I moved. “Fuck.”

“Exactly.” He stated firmly, “I won’t waiver on this, Storm. You and our daughter need to be checked out, and then you can go to her.”

“He’s right.” Dane nodded solemnly, “You’ll do Peyton no good if you’re hurt when she wakes up. You know how she worries.”

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