Page 40 of Power Play Daddies (Miami Icemen #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Daisy

The hospital’s fluorescent lights burn my eyes, but the world around me is spinning.

The rush of doctors and nurses, the quick movements of Kieran, Beau, and Mason as they scramble to keep me steady—everything is happening too fast.

I try to focus, but all I can think about is how fucking terrified I am.

“Shit, shit, shit,” I mutter, gripping Kieran’s hand as I’m wheeled down the hallway. My breathing is shaky, like I’m not even in my own body.

This is too soon. Way too soon.

Kieran squeezes my hand. “It’s all right, Daisy. We’ve got you. Just breathe.”

I can’t breathe. My lungs feel like they’re trapped in concrete. I’m not ready. I’m not ready for this.

When we get to the delivery room, a nurse immediately starts prepping me. I can’t even process what she’s saying, but she’s pointing and talking about how dilated I am and how we need to get ready for delivery now.

“You’re dilated to five,” the doctor says, her voice calm but firm. “We’re going to get started.”

“No,” I choke out, shaking my head. “It’s too soon. It’s too fucking soon. Dr. Ross isn’t even here yet.”

“Daisy,” the doctor says softly, pulling me into a sitting position on the bed. “My name is Dr. Emma Carstairs. I work with Dr. Ross. I know this is scary and not at all what you prepared for, but I promise we’ve got this. You’re gonna be fine. Let’s just take it one step at a time, okay?”

I nod, but the panic is still there, gnawing at my insides. I want to scream. I want to run, but there’s nowhere to go.

Mason, Beau, and Uncle Ace are pacing outside, finishing up the paperwork. Kieran’s right beside me, his presence grounding me even though my whole body feels like it’s about to break. He doesn’t let go of my hand for a second.

The doctor checks again, then looks up at me, her expression serious. “We’re gonna deliver the babies now. You’re in active labor.”

I want to scream. Instead, I close my eyes, biting my lip, and trying to take in what’s happening. I didn’t expect this. I didn’t even plan for this. This isn’t the way it was supposed to happen.

“Daisy, listen to me,” Kieran says, his voice low and steady. “You’re going to be okay. We’re all here.”

I nod, but it’s like I’m underwater. I can barely hear him. I can barely think.

Even the pain of my contractions doesn’t fully connect. I feel like it’s happening to someone else, and I’m just stuck inside their head, watching in a vague kind of way.

Beau bursts into the room, a huge grin on his face despite the situation. But when he sees my face, his smile fades.

“You good, Daisy?” he asks, walking up to the bed and brushing my hair out of my face.

“Not really,” I say, my voice cracking. A strong contraction washes over me, and I cry out in surprise. “I wasn’t ready. It’s too soon,” I pant in the aftermath, the pain tingling through my nerve endings.

“You’re going to be fine,” Beau says, rubbing my shoulder. “We’re with you, all right? Every step of the way.”

I can barely focus on what he’s saying. The pain is starting to hit now, hard. I squeeze Kieran’s hand tighter.

“I know you’re scared,” Kieran says, his voice so soft I almost don’t hear it. “But we’re here. Just breathe.”

I try to listen to him, but it feels impossible. The pain is overwhelming.

The contractions are coming fast and furious now, and I’m so fucking scared. My heart is pounding, and I can barely hear anything over the roar of the pain.

“Daisy, I need you to push,” the doctor says, her voice calm but commanding.

I don’t want to. I don’t want to do anything but scream. But I know I don’t have a choice. So, I do it. I push.

The next few minutes are a blur of pain, pressure, and chaos. Kieran’s hand is still in mine, steadying me, but everything else feels like it’s spinning out of control.

I push again, harder this time. And then I hear it. A baby’s cry.

My heart jumps, relief flooding through me. But I’m not done yet. There’s another one coming.

“Just one more, Daisy,” the doctor says, her voice urgent. “You’ve got this. Push.”

I brace myself, feeling the pressure building. I’m running on pure instinct now, no time for fear, no time for doubt.

One more push.

And then, another cry.

The sound of it fills the room, and I collapse back against the pillows, gasping for air. Kieran’s right beside me, holding me steady as the nurses take the babies away to check on them.

Beau’s eyes are wide as he watches, his face pale. But then his eyes lock on mine, and a single tear slides down his cheek.

“Daisy…” he whispers. “They’re here. They’re really here.”

The nurse comes back with both babies in her arms, one in each. “You did great,” she says, smiling at me. “They’re healthy but small. Two beautiful boys.”

I look down at the two tiny bundles in her arms, and my heart swells. My sons. I never imagined it would happen this way, but they’re mine. They’re real.

“They’re perfect,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.

The nurse places one baby in Beau’s arms, and he looks at him like he’s seeing the world for the first time. His face softens, the tough exterior cracking for just a moment.

“Hey there, little guy,” he says, his voice rough.

I watch, unable to tear my eyes away. Then the nurse hands me the other baby, and I hold him close, my chest tightening.

He’s so small, so fragile. I can barely believe this is happening.

“They’re beautiful, Daisy,” Kieran says, his voice low, his eyes on the baby in my arms. “You did good. You did so good.”

I can’t stop the tears. They spill down my face as I look at the two perfect little boys I’ve just brought into the world. “What are we going to do now?” I say, my voice shaky.

Beau looks at me, still holding his son. “We take care of them. We take care of you, Daisy. And we’ll do it together.”

“They will have to stay here for a while,” the nurse is saying as she continues to clean up, and verify vitals, and make notes. “When they’re this early, there can be complications.

My heart cramps in my chest. “Are they going to be okay?” I ask in a small voice.

The nurse places a hand on my shoulder reassuringly. “We have twin births here all the time. You three will be in great hands.”

That’s not a yes or a no. I hate that. It makes me feel panicky.

“It’s more like the six of us now,” Beau says to me, kissing my forehead.

“Yeah,” Mason says, his voice full of emotion as he stands by the door, leaning against the frame. “We’re in this together, no matter what.”

Uncle Ace is standing at the door now too, a silent presence. He walks over, looking at the babies, and then at me.

His voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it. “You did good, Daisy,” he says. “I’m proud of you.”

I can’t believe he’s saying that, after everything. After all the shit we’ve been through. I didn’t think he’d be proud of me.

But here he is, looking at me with something close to admiration in his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice small. “I’m sorry I lied. I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Uncle Ace says, shaking his head. “What’s done is done. We’ll deal with the rest later. Right now, we’ve got two little guys to look after.”

I nod, unable to say anything else. I’m exhausted. Overwhelmed. But my heart is full in a way I didn’t know was possible.

I have my boys now. And no matter what happens next, I’ll protect them. I’ll do whatever it takes.

And I’ll have the men I love right beside me, even if the world doesn’t understand, even if I lose my job, even if the boys are benched.

Chosen family sticks together. And right now, that’s the only thing keeping me going.