Chapter 31: To The Hospital!

**Preston**

I pull Artemis into my arms and let her cry. Somehow we ended up on the floor behind Slater's office desk. I gently rock her in my arms attempting to console her like I would my child.

I've read Slater's health reports. This is something he has been dealing with since birth—cyanotic congenital heart disease. I became suspicious of his failing help a few weeks ago. I noticed a blueish tint to his fingers and toes. It wasn't easy to tell since every inch of him is covered in tattoos. His lips being blue and clutching his chest when he thinks no one is looking is how I knew something was wrong. When I stayed the night one night a week, I noticed him sitting in the chair, struggling to breathe.

Once she has calmed down I call Ryder. "Slater is in the ER. He collapsed at the doctor's office."

"I know. I'm talking with the ER doctor now. He is stable so we are going to move him to the cardiac floor."

"Cardiac? Why? Is it his heart again?"

"What do you mean again?" Artemis sniffs.

"I'll tell you when I get off the phone," I whisper to her.

"His heart is shutting down. He is going to need surgery. We don't know what type yet. I'm going to make calls to find a heart donor as a precaution. He will be the priority when one is found. He went into cardiac arrest upon arrival. If it weren't for Rory's quick thinking, he would have died."

"Thank goodness for the best RN in the country. Is there one or do we need to make one? For one of our own, I don't care what sleazeball we have to end to get him a heart—he will have one."

"I care. It has to be a healthy heart, so we need to be selective."

"We'll discuss this more later. I will call in the whole family if I have to," Ryder assures me.

"Good, because I think I'm in as much in love with Slater as I am Artemis."

"Burn the world?"

"Let it bleed," I reply.

"River it is then. Whose the rose?" 'River' is code for death to whoever crosses us in seeing that Slater lives.

"Slater," I answer without thinking.

"That's new. But, I think a double rose is appropriate for the new Death Kings. You, Ronin, and Razz are the vines?"

"Yes." There is no doubt in my mind my team is different. We don't live and kill for one person like the other teams, whose rose is symbolic of their women and the Death Kings. Slater and Artemis are our roses.

Ryder hums under his breath. "I changed my mind. I'll put him in one of our private rooms at the top where Rory can monitor him closely."

"Good idea because once the Ravagers mind out, they'll attempt to capitalize on Slater being down. It could get bloody."

"It would be the first time the room has accrued a body count."

"I believe it. I'll see you there in about an hour."

"Be careful telling Camden what has happened. So you don't end up dead I suggest letting Artemis break the news to him."

I look at Artemis who nods to me, having heard his advice. I end the phone call.

"A little help would be nice!" Razz is at the door panting and in a panic. "He's going to kill!" He shouts frantically.

Wide-eyed, Artemis and I leap off the floor running down the hall toward the security room.

When we arrive we find Camden with a bloody knife and Ronin facing off with him. His arm is bleeding profusely and he clutches his side but it is on his feet and focuses on Cam. Prepared to fight at any moment.

"I didn't think you stab me asshole. I'm not letting you kill me," Ronin snarls at him. "Fucking toddler throwing a goddamn temper tantrum just because you don't agree with what I told you." He spits blood at Camden's feet and I notice his jaw is discoloring already. "I fucking love him too!"

"You don't know him!" Camden lunges at Ronin with a roar.

"Camden Harlen McCoy put that knife down!" Artemis demands sharply.

He drops the knife like it's scalding him but his first lands a blow to Ronin's face. Ryder said this guy was a sociopath but I'm almost certain he is both as he laughs at being pummeled by Camden's meaty fists. Of course, then I remember our video chat and how he begged Slater to hurt him. He enjoys pain. This is Ronin's idea of fun. Without Slater who is going to control this self-destructive need of his in a safe environment?

You know what… I'm not going there. There is no without Slater. He is going to live. Even if I have to get my hands bloody to ensure his survival. My older brother Weston didn't want this type of blood-soaked life for me, so I've kept my hands. Now, I have no desire to keep them clean at the cost of losing a member of our team, our polycule.

"That's enough!" My voice booms in the confines of the small room. "I don't care if you have to bullet in both of them the fighting stops now," I growl at Razz pushing Artemis behind me for safety.

Razz pulls his gun from the holster underneath his blue and black flannel shirt. He takes the suppressor out and screws it onto the muzzle, flicks the safety off, and places a bullet in each of them, both on the leg. They both cry out in pain. Camden rolls off of Ronin and now they are both glaring at Razz who is holding his gun.

Razz shrugs at them. "Preston told me to. He is the leader."

Their eyes narrow on me, but Artemis steps out from behind me with her hands on her hips and fury in her eyes. "If you two fucknuts are done acting like psychotic children I would like to go to the hospital now to see Slater. He had fainted at his doctor's appointment and had a heart attack while being admitted." They both look at her blankly as if processing her words.

"Now get off your asses and into my SUV," command. "Razz can help staunch the bleeding until we get there. I'm calling the police department for an emergency escort." With those words, I exit dialing the chief on my cell phone.

As we exit, Slater's friend Riley there being dropped off by his professor husband, Josh. They have dinner with Slater's family at least once a week. They don't on the boys and bring them gifts. When they found out I had a little boy, they gave me gifts for Rowan as well.

Rowan and Ronin. Row and Roan. That's going to get confusing when we live together.

Hold the phone! Where did that thought come from!? What in my right mind makes me think, that is a good idea so early in our relationship?

"You guys look like you just went to war. What's going on Artie?" Riley questions with concern.

"Would you two mind keeping the boys tonight after your shift? You can pick them up and Camden's mother's house," Artemis says.

Suspiciously he says, "Sure, Goddess. Whatever you need. You know that," he assures.

She sighs in relief. "I know. Don't freak out too bad, but Slater is in the hospital."

He gasps in shock and Josh hugs Riley to him. "What happened?"

"It's his heart. We need to get to the hospital to find out more," I tell him. I point at Ronin and Camden. "Those two idiots need medical attention as well."

"Don't worry about a thing." Riley winks at Artemis and me. "We've got the boys," Josh reassures.

She hugs them both around their necks. "Thank you so much. I don't what we would do without you two and Cam's mom."

They hold her tight. "You know we love those boys more than we love Slay," Riley teases with another wink, causing her to giggle.

"I'm telling him you said that," Josh reprimands, but Riley places a well-manicured hand on his shiny pink pants and pops his hip out sassily. The pants remind me of a black pair I've seen Ransom wear. They have similar styles, but where Ransom prefers dark colors, Riley prefers vibrant bright colors.

"He'll agree. My bestie knows all too well," Riley sasses while batting his big fake eyelashes. Josh shakes his head and kisses Riley's temple in response.

"We need to go! Roan is getting pale!" Razz shouts with urgency.

Artemis kisses their cheeks once again thanking Josh and Riley, before saying goodbye as we rush to the SUV.

Wonderful. Roan is ashen and bleeding.

To the hospital, we go!

Nothing else better go wrong today. I should have knocked on wood because I jinxed us.