46. Evie
46
EVIE
“Three more kicks on the right,” I tell Daisy, guiding her hand over my enormous belly. At eight and a half months with twins, I feel like a beached whale. “Your brothers are having a party in there.”
She grins at the movement under her palm. Violet’s already lost interest, too busy arranging her toy motorcycles in complex formations on the gallery floor.
The brothers insisted I stop working weeks ago, but sitting at home alone drove me crazy. So here I am, supervising from the comfortable chair they installed behind my desk, watching my family’s daily chaos unfold.
Chase works on a client’s backpiece, and the machine is buzzing steadily. Rick handles paperwork in his office while Zane entertains walk-ins. Normal afternoon. Safe. Perfect.
The door chimes. Something about the stranger makes my skin prickle—his suit is too expensive for a random client, and his eyes scan exits like a professional.
“Can I help you?” Zane asks, but I’m already reaching for my phone.
The man’s smile doesn’t reach his cold eyes. “Just browsing.”
Before I can dial, his jacket opens. Metal glints.
“Girls, bathroom.” My voice stays steady despite my racing heart. “Now.”
Violet freezes, but Daisy moves instantly, grabbing her sister’s hand. They know this drill—we practiced it even after Luca’s arrest.
“Don’t move.” The man pulls his gun smoothly, making Chase’s client scream. “Nobody needs to die today.”
“Little late for Luca’s revenge, isn’t it?” Zane shifts, putting himself between the threat and my desk. “He’s rotting in maximum security.”
“Boss has unfinished business.” The man’s eyes find me. “Loose ends to tie up.”
My hands shield my belly instinctively. The twins kick harder, sensing my fear.
“Think real carefully about your next move.” Rick emerges from his office, voice deadly calm. “You’re in our territory now.”
The gunman’s smile widens. “Three brothers or thirty. Makes no difference to a bullet.”
Everything happens at once.
Chase’s client bolts for the door, providing a distraction. Zane moves like lightning, closing distance. The gun swings toward him.
Pain rips through my abdomen—sharp and undeniable. Not just fear this time.
A shot cracks. Glass shatters. I can’t tell if anyone’s hit because another contraction steals my breath.
“Evie!” Rick spots my distress even as he grapples with the gunman.
Zane gets the weapon, sending it skidding across the floor. Chase has the man pinned, a tattooing needle pressed to his throat.
“One good reason.” Chase’s voice holds violence. “Give me one reason not to open your jugular.”
“Guys.” I grip my desk as wetness soaks my legs. “My water just broke.”
“Shit.” Zane keeps his boot on the gunman’s chest while pulling out his phone. “Clay, we need cleanup at the gallery. And call the doctor. Babies are coming.”
Another contraction hits. I try breathing like the classes taught, but panic makes it hard to focus.
“The girls,” I gasp. “Check the girls.”
Rick moves toward the bathroom. The moment he opens the door, Violet launches herself at his legs.
“It’s okay, princess.” He lifts her while Daisy follows more cautiously. “Bad man’s not going anywhere.”
“Mama?” Daisy spots me doubled over. “What’s wrong?”
“Your brothers.” I manage a smile through the pain. “They’re ready to meet you.”
Sirens wail closer. Clay bursts in with backup, taking control of our would-be assassin. Rose appears moments later.
“Get her to the hospital.” She takes Violet from Rick. “I’ll handle this and bring the girls once things settle.”
Another contraction grips me. It’s closer now. Real labor, triggered by stress and adrenaline.
“I’ve got her.” Rick lifts me carefully. “Chase, bring the car. Zane?—”
“Already calling ahead.” Zane juggles phones. “Doc’s meeting us there.”
The drive passes in a blur of pain and fear. Rick holds me in the back seat while Chase navigates traffic, with Zane clearing our path on his bike.
“Five minutes apart.” Rick times the contractions. “Breathe, baby. Almost there.”
The hospital entrance is filled with familiar faces—the MC brothers providing security, Doc Jensen waiting with a wheelchair, and Jamie arriving to help coordinate.
“Let’s get those babies delivered.” Doc squeezes my hand. “Though I think they’re doing most of the work already.”
Another contraction hits as they wheel me to delivery. Through tears, I glimpse Rose arriving with my daughters. Clay’s crew surrounds the building. Our family protecting its own.
“Ready?” Rick asks as they settle me in the birthing suite.
I grab his hand, needing an anchor against the pain. “Stay with me.”
“We will.” Zane takes my other hand while Chase supports my back.
“Your boys are coming, Evie.” Doc checks my progress. “Time to push.”
I’m surrounded by the men I love. Finally safe. Finally home. Ready to meet the newest members of our unconventional, perfect family.
Pain rips through me like fire. I crush Rick’s hand, beyond caring if I break bones.
“Nine centimeters.” Doc Jensen checks again. “First baby’s in position. Almost there.”
“Hear that?” Chase wipes sweat from my forehead. “Almost time to meet our boys.”
Another contraction hits before I can respond. They’re relentless now, barely letting me catch my breath.
“Need to push.” The pressure builds unbearably. “Now.”
“Not yet.” Doc positions himself. “One more centimeter.”
Zane distracts me with ice chips while Rick and Chase take turns supporting my back. Three hours of labor have left us all raw, but none of them show signs of leaving.
“Christ.” Zane winces as I grip harder. “Remind me not to arm wrestle you anymore.”
That pulls a laugh from me, cut short by fresh pain.
“Ten centimeters.” Doc’s voice carries authority. “Time to push, Evie.”
The first real push feels like being torn apart. I scream, not caring who hears.
“Baby A’s head is crowning.” Doc works efficiently. “Give me another big push.”
Rick supports my shoulders while Chase and Zane each hold a leg. The position should feel awkward, but it doesn’t—we’ve never been conventional.
“One more.” Doc encourages. “Almost there.”
I bear down with everything I have, feeling the first baby slide free. His cry fills the room.
“It’s a boy!” Doc holds him up briefly. “Big healthy one.”
But there’s no time to celebrate. The second baby demands attention immediately.
“Here comes his brother.” Doc passes the first twin to a nurse. “Ready to push again?”
“Can’t.” Exhaustion hits hard. “Too tired.”
“Yes, you can.” Rick’s voice anchors me. “You’re the strongest person we know.”
“Remember running from Luca?” Chase strokes my hair. “This is nothing compared to that.”
“Our boys need their mama.” Zane squeezes my hand.
Their faith in me sparks something. I push again, harder.
“Head’s crowning.” Doc works quickly. “One more big push.”
The second twin arrives with less drama than his brother, his cry softer but just as healthy.
“Another perfect boy.” Doc grins. “Good job, mama.”
The nurses clean and check both babies while I deliver the afterbirth.
“Want to meet your sons?” The nurse brings them wrapped in blue blankets.
They place one baby in my arms while Rick holds the other. Perfect tiny faces, still red and wrinkled. One has Chase’s nose. The other has Zane’s chin.
“They’re beautiful.” Tears fall freely now. “Our boys.”
We pass them around—each brother getting time with each baby. Their huge hands cradle such small bodies with infinite care.
“Got names picked out?” Doc asks as he finishes up.
I look at my men—these brothers who’ve given me everything. “Tank for the first one. After the man who built this family.”
Rick’s eyes fill at that. “And the second?”
“Mason.” The name feels right. “It means strength.”
“Tank and Mason Cross.” Zane tests the names. “Perfect.”
A soft knock interrupts. Rose peeks in. “Some big sisters are getting impatient out here.”
The girls enter carefully, eyes huge at their tiny brothers. Violet immediately has questions about why they’re so red. Daisy just stares in wonder.
“Can I hold one?” she asks softly.
Rick helps her settle in a chair and shows her how to support Tank’s head. Violet then gets her turn with Mason, supervised closely by Chase.
Finally, the twins start fussing—they’re probably hungry. As I prepare to nurse them, I study each perfect feature. No trace of fear marred their arrival now, and no shadows darken their future.
Just love.