Page 34

Verity

“ W e’re here, whatever you need. Do you need me to fly out and take care of Mercy?” Creed offered over the phone as I sat in Jonas’ SUV in the underground parking garage of the hospital.

“For the moment I have it sorted.” Which was why I was still in the car.

The Maimers had an away game but weren’t staying over. I’d called Rusty’s omega out of desperation, who assured me that Mercy could stay with them tonight. They’d make sure my sister got to practice in the morning.

“Okay. Let me know the moment you need help. I think it might be time to tell Grace,” Creed added. He’d been watching the game with his roommates.

“Already did. I needed advice. Anyhow, I need to go. Love you.”

“Love you.” He ended the call.

My phone buzzed.

AJ

Where are you? They’re moving him to room 305.

Me

Getting Mercy sorted. On my way.

Others had texted, but I didn’t have the energy to deal with them. I sent Mercy a text updating her about what was happening, so she didn’t worry.

Grif. A sob escaped my lips as I leaned on the steering wheel, allowing myself a moment to fall apart.

He’ll be okay.

He had to be.

Jonas assured me that his collapse might not be bad. Yet all I could think of was I collapsed due to a stroke and how awful that was.

How it could have been so much worse.

No. Happy thoughts. Grif would be fine. Maybe he did eat too much cake.

Wiping my eyes, I grabbed my crutch and purse, and made my way up to the third floor. Critical Care. Tears pricked my eyes. I walked past the nurse’s station looking for his room–or the guys.

“Can I help you?” a woman in scrubs said from behind the station. The beta had a pinched face and a permanent sneer.

“Just going to 305.” I texted AJ.

“I need you to sign in. Not everyone can enter,” she snarked.

“Absolutely. I’m here for 305.” I showed her my ID.

She typed on her computer and looked at my ID. Her look twisted into an accusing snigger. “You’re not his pack. I can’t let you in.”

“I’m one of his emergency contacts.” We’d added each other as emergency contacts specifically for this sort of situation.

“I see that. His pack’s here, so there’s no need for you. Go on now, before I call security.” She looked me up and down like I was worthless.

“I’m his emergency contact. He’s my boyfriend. ” I made my voice hard. The itch to get to Grif, to hold his hand and make sure he was okay, buried under my skin. This woman was keeping me from him, and I struggled to keep my alpha in check.

“Don’t even try to bark me because it’s illegal to bark hospital employees. I’m calling security.” She picked up her phone.

“Well, don’t let little old me stop you from doing your job.” I strode past her, holding my head high. I was pretty sure I had a right to be with him and she was making things up.

“You can’t go back there,” she sputtered.

“Bless your heart.” Giving her a sunny smile, I didn’t stop. No one was keeping me from him.

AJ met me in the hall. “There you are. Mercy’s sorted?”

“Yes. Now I can focus on him. What’s wrong?” My heart wrenched, and I kept seeing Grif fall to the ground in my mind.

AJ tugged me into a small waiting area where Jonas was holding Dean. “It’s his kidneys. Dean already called his doctor. There’s a good chance we can’t hide his designation. While I might be able to buy everyone off to keep everything off his record like we did with the overdose, I’m not sure we should.”

“Me neither. We need to make sure they’re running the right tests. Which they’re not because currently they think he’s a beta who had too much sex and booze. Grif’s family is texting me. I told them I’d update them when I knew what’s going on,” Dean said quietly, though we were the only ones in the room.

“Let’s hold off the parent patrol for as long as we can. Hopefully, it won’t be that serious,” Jonas agreed.

A bunch of security came into the room.

“That’s her. She can’t be in here,” the woman from the front said.

“Why the fuck not?” AJ snapped.

“She’s not listed as pack. Only pack and immediate family can be in Critical Care outside of visiting hours,” she snapped. She had major mean girl energy. Ugh.

One of the large security guards paused, eyes focused on Jonas and Dean. “Wait, you’re…”

“We are. Grif Graf’s in the hospital,” Jonas said. “Someone should plan for that. The media might even be here already.”

“You can’t make her leave,” Dean pouted, coming over and pulling me to him.

“You’re Team Mom.” The guard looked at me, then to the woman in scrubs, and shrugged. “Team Mom’s with Grif Graf and Double-D. Everyone knows that.”

“I’m on his file as an emergency contact. I’m one of his alphas and I can be here.” Authority filled my voice. Nope, not leaving.

The guard shrugged. “Sounds reasonable. This is the waiting room. People wait here.”

With a jerk of his head, they turned to leave.

“She’s not…” She pouted as the guards ignored her.

Jonas put an arm around me so I was between him and Dean as his amber eyes focused on her and narrowed. “Verity can be here.”

AJ joined us with a glare that said don’t make me call my lawyer.

“Fine.” She stomped off in a huff.

“Good job standing up for yourself.” Jonas planted a kiss on my temple.

I held Dean, stroking his hair, not saying anything because there wasn’t anything to say. AJ and Jonas texted and made phone calls.

“Grif is an omega? You didn’t think to tell me?” Kylee, the Knight’s PR person, ran into the waiting room, looking frazzled, heels clacking on the ground. The no-nonsense brunette beta was usually calm and put together.

“Coach told you.” Jonas’ words were matter of fact as he looked up from his phone.

“Coach Atkins knows?” Her voice rose in pitch. “Fuck. No. It’s all over the news.”

Dean sat up. “The news? Someone outed him? This is literally his worst nightmare.”

“Who’d do that? Barely anyone knows,” I replied, still holding Dean tight, my belly in knots.

“We were careless in the locker room a couple weeks ago,” Dean admitted. “He broke through his blockers when he spiraled; anyone could have figured it out, even with AJ’s quick work in trying to de-scent everything.”

“Blockers. Is his collapse related to bad blockers or something?” Kylee asked, a frown tugging on her lips.

“More like he’s approaching the point of no return. He told Coach because he was getting ready to come out. You were on the list,” Dean told her.

She nodded and typed something on her phone. “Got it. Given that Chet Chesterton is holding a press conference from jail, I’m guessing it’s him who outed him.”

Jonas sucked in a breath. “Chet knows. Fuck.”

“That fucking asshole,” I muttered, my hands fisting.

AJ gave Jonas a look. “Do you think this is related to Bunty telling Grif he needed to drop the lawsuit against Chet, because Cal and Bertie are buddies and it’s making poker night awkward?”

“What?” Kylee pulled over a chair. “I need to know everything, and I needed to know it an hour ago.”

“Bertie?” I looked at AJ.

“Bertie Chesterton, Chet’s dad. One of my dads sometimes goes to that poker night. Cal Daughtry is awful at poker. Oh. Huh, I wonder how much Cal owes Bertie.” AJ texted someone.

I looked up Bertie Chesterton, trustee, NYIT, on my phone and showed it to AJ . “Albert Chesterton?”

“Yep.” AJ didn’t look up from his phone. “Why?”

“The trustee that’s giving my department problems about my research is named Bertie .” My hands shook. That made sense–and I hadn’t realized Chet’s father was a trustee.

“Bertie’s giving you problems about your research?” AJ gave me a look, then returned to texting.

“For all I know, the haters, the threats, the person who got Samantha to destroy my research, were all orchestrated by Chet. ” Considering he knew how important my research was to me, that tracked. My belly churned.

After all these years, Chet still wouldn’t let it go.

Though he’d been quiet for some time. It must have been me dating Grif that set him off. Because apparently, I couldn’t have nice things.

“Makes sense. Grif wasn’t succumbing to his demands,” Jonas agreed, giving my hand a squeeze. “So, he took to the internet and stirred shit. When that wasn’t working, he got his dad involved.”

“That’s pretty much how Chet operates. Make trouble, get daddy to bail him out, repeat,” AJ replied, eyes on his phone screen.

Kylee gave us a look. “Chet, what? Though I remember that Chet wasn’t happy Grif was dating Verity.”

We filled her in on everything, including my history with Chet.

Her phone rang, and she took it. “He what? He’s not allowed to hold press conferences without a written script, a teleprompter, and a chaperone. No, Cal’s not an appropriate chaperone. Handle it. I don’t care if you have to drag him away. I’ll be there as soon as I handle things here at the hospital.” She ended the call, exuding anger. “Mr. Longfellow is giving a press conference. The game isn’t even fucking over.”

Jonas turned on the TV. There stood Mr. Bunty Longfellow, the general manager, addressing the press. A man, possibly even older than Mr. Longfellow, hung behind him in a very expensive suit, head bald and gleaming.

“Cal and I are sad to do this. But we’re a family, and we don’t tolerate dishonesty,” Mr. Longfellow told the reporters. “The termination is effective immediately and we’ll recommend that he not be permitted to play for any PHL team.”

Kylee grimaced, a manicured hand covering her face. “He did not.”

“You’re buying out his contract?” a reporter replied.

Mr. Longfellow shook his head. “Termination, not buyout.”

Dean’s cozy scent soured as he scowled at the TV. “They can’t fire him. Especially without a test. Suspend him while it’s sorted, but not fire. It’s the law.”

“I’m on this.” AJ grabbed his phone and stormed out of the room in a cloud of alpha indignation.

Jonas looked like he’d explode, anger wafting off him in spicy mossy puffs. “Not how this works. I’m texting our union rep.”

Kylee got on her phone again, expression livid. “I said get him off the mic right now or so help me, you won’t like the consequences.”

“Can you even legally fire Grif Graf, given the way contracts are now structured? This isn’t the old days,” another reporter said on the TV.

“This came down from both the Daughtry family and one of the other owners. Between his lawsuit and that model he’s seeing, I don’t think Grif’s PHL material.” He shrugged. “It was a mistake to bring him on.”

He did not just bring me into it. Reporters clamored for his attention. The other man gave him an unhappy look when he said other owners.

“You’re going to block him from playing based on his designation? That is illegal. Not to mention there are other omegas in the PHL,” another reporter replied.

“Not enforcers.” He shrugged. “Look, I’m simply carrying a message from the owners–”

Several people came up around him, including the assistant general manager, who looked ready to murder someone.

“I’m sorry, but this press conference is over,” the Knight’s assistant manager ordered. “Anyone who doesn’t disperse now will be banned from future press conferences.”

Mr. Longfellow fought the security. “Don’t touch me. I’m allowed to fire someone for dishonesty.”

“Other owners? Are the rumors true and Cal Daugherty has been secretly trading away bits of the team to pay off his gambling debts,” another reporter asked, chasing after him and the other older man.

“While I know you have questions, this press conference is over,” the assistant GM said as everything went black, then cut to two very confused commentators.

“Well, then,” one said from behind their desk with the Knights and Royals logos in the background. “I’m not sure that’s legal? They could buy him out, trade him, give him away, but I don’t think they can outright fire him for simply being another designation. I mean, we don’t even have official confirmation.”

“The fans won’t like that either. I just hope Grif Graf is okay,” the other commentator said. “In all my years in this sport, I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Kylee looked like she was about to have a panic attack, scent sour. Her phone rang, and she answered it. “I saw that. Yes, I’m with his pack now. I’ll be right there.”

AJ came back in and looked at Kylee. “Our lawyers are on it. This is illegal.”

“Good. I have to go. Thank you for sharing everything with me.” She stood and hurried out of the room, phone ringing again.

“My advocate from the Center is calling.” Dean sighed as he held up his phone. “Fuck. Grif was outed. What do we do?”

“Talk to your advocate to see what resources the Center can offer. But right now we confirm nothing publicly.” AJ hit the wall with his hand. “Chet needs to be stopped.”

“Yes, he does,” I agreed. Anger rose up in me. How dare he?

“That part about the team being sold off bit by bit to pay off Mr. Daughtry’s gambling debts is weird,” Dean said, answering his call and going out into the hall.

AJ sucked in a breath, realization in his eyes. “No, that makes perfect sense. Bertie makes it his business to know everyone else’s, then uses that knowledge to his advantage.”

“I want to hurt someone for Grif.” My hands fisted, my purple painted nails digging into my palms. So much anger coursed through me.

“I know, Little Alpha. I know.” Jonas held me to him. For a long moment we just stood there.

Dean came back into the room and the four of us settled down to wait.

A small, older, omega doctor came in. “You’re all Griffin McGraff’s? Hi, I’m Dr. Arya. I’m his personal physician.”

“I’m Dean, his husband. I called you. Please tell me he’ll be okay?” Dean rushed over to her. “Does he need a kidney? Because I’d give him anything. ”

“It’s an infection, a bad one, but not kidney failure. The infection is an indicator of problems to come, problems I’ve been speaking to him about,” she told us, consulting her tablet.

AJ nodded, look grim. “We’re aware.”

“Infection. So you’re pumping him full of antibiotics and taking him off blockers?” Dean asked. “We’re his family. We all know.”

“For now. There’s a bigger problem. We’re going to have to note his designation in his file to get him the proper care. Especially because he’s spiraling. Given he’s unconscious, we need to get him out of it if he’s to make a full recovery.” Dr. Arya’s expression went serious.

Full recovery? I liked the sound of that. We’d deal with everything else a little at a time.

“You’re moving him to the omega unit so you can better treat him?” Dean leaned into Jonas.

“It’s your choice. They can treat him here, but it would be better to move him. Reporters are here and it will be harder to hide his designation from them if he’s in the omega ward,” she told us. “But it’s also more secure.”

Jonas looked at AJ and me.

“Do it,” AJ told him, squeezing my hand. I nodded.

“Go ahead,” Jonas told her. “The media has already outed him.”

“Oh. How terrible. We’ll move him and get him stable. You can wait in the external waiting room outside the omega unit on the 4th floor and we’ll get you.” She turned to leave.

“He’s going to recover, right? He’ll be fine and play hockey and everything?” Dean’s voice broke.

“I hope so.” With a long look, she left the waiting room.

“We’ll figure it out.” Jonas hugged Dean. “Call his family. I’ll update Kylee and Stu. Why don’t you two get some coffee for us and meet us there?”

“Good idea.” AJ put his arm around my waist. We went down to the cafeteria and got everyone coffee.

My phone buzzed as we took the elevator up to the fourth floor, as the PR person for the Maimers texted me.

Sonny

I can’t believe the Knight’s GM came for you. We’ve got your back.

Also, we stand with Grif Graf.

Me

Thank you.

That meant everything. I showed the text to AJ.

“Shit. They’re in for it,” AJ agreed.

Mr. Longfellow had no idea what he’d done.

AJ, Jonas, Dean, and I settled into the fourth floor waiting room, which was outside of the locked doors, guarded by deltas, which marked the omega unit.

“There you are. We’ve been looking for you,” Elias Royce said, looking like he’d run off the ice and thrown on whatever was around. The team was with him, most wearing athletic clothing instead of their suits.

“Is the game over already?” I asked. That seemed fast.

“We walked as soon as we heard they fired Grif,” Nia replied.

“Don’t you worry, even if they won by forfeit, they didn’t score a single goal,” Jean-Paul assured Dean.

“You forfeited for him? You heard he was fired and left?” AJ asked.

“Of course we did. Firing him in the middle of a game after he collapsed is not okay,” Winston replied, coming up beside Elias and putting an arm around him, the garish lights reflecting off his bald head.

“It’s not even legal.” Pauly made a face, shaggy blonde surfer hair still back for the game.

“It’s fucking bullshit,” Carlos added. “What a knothead.”

“Grif is an omega? But I could absolutely see our omega throwing someone up against the wall when pissed if she was as big as him.” Pauley grinned at Nakey.

Nia laughed. “Same. It’s not like we’ve never seen Double-D fight. We know omegas can hold their own when they’re protecting something dear to them.”

Oh. She was right. Relief that no one seemed angry, they just all took it in stride, filled me with happiness.

“He’ll be okay, right?” Clark looked stricken. He wasn’t wearing his glasses.

“We hope so,” Jonas replied.

The team had walked. Forfeiting not only the game for the team, but possibly getting fined. For Grif.

The owner and GM might think Grif was expendable and not worthy of being a Knight, but clearly the team felt otherwise.

Now, we just needed for Grif to be okay.