The nurse maneuvers the overhead mirror directly over the hospital bed so we can watch. I hope I don’t do something stupid like pass out and fall on the floor. Flint and Jesse both assured me I would be fine. They also warned me to keep my eyes on the baby and try to block out anything else I might see.

“Here we go,” the doctor says. “Time to push.”

I’m holding Lila’s hand in both of mine. We’re both watching the mirror when the baby’s head suddenly appears.

“Oh my God!” I say, squeezing her hand. “There he is.”

“One more push and this little boy will be out,” the doctor says.

“Come on, sweetheart,” I encourage her. “You’re almost done.”

I’m overwhelmed with intense emotions that I’ve never felt before as my firstborn son comes into the world. His cry is loud and strong.

Just like Lila.

The doctor cuts the cord and the nurses quickly hustle the baby over to the table to clean him off.

Lila’s green eyes flood with happy tears that roll down her cheeks. “Go over and check on him,” she says, turning loose of my hand. “Make sure he’s okay.”

“Not yet. I’m not leaving you. He’ll be fine. There’s one more baby to go. It’s you and me, sweetheart. All the way to the end.” I grab her hand again and kiss it. “Are you ready?”

She smiles at me through her tears and nods at me.

“Okay,” the doctor says. “Time for the second act. Baby boy number two is in a hurry to catch up to his big brother.”

Several more long, intense pushes, and our second son arrives in the world, screaming and kicking louder than his brother. The nurses wrap up the babies in blue blankets and gently hand one to Lila and the other one to me.

When I look at Lila and our boys, I’m so happy and overwhelmed with emotion that I could burst.

“Do you have names for them yet?” the doctor asks.

“Yes, I do,” Lila answers, smiling over at me.

“Daddy’s Dangerous Duo.”

Author’s Note

What’s up next? Toby, of course, in “Take Down” now available on all outlets. This book is one you don’t want to miss because Toby is the new reader favorite! Also, the Dangerous Duo twins show up again and this time Sam has his hands full. They’re not sweet, little babies now! Payback is hell and Sam needs to pay for his raising!

TAKE DOWN

I thought I had everything under control. Until the day I saved Maggie’s life.

Most men would melt if a girl like her looked at them the way she looks at me, as if I was her savior, her protector.

She sees the muscles, the tats, the hero the media makes me out to be.