Knot a Chance: Doms of The Covenant Book 3

by Samantha A. Cole

  “Um—sure. I can do that. Is there—is there anything else I can do for you?”

  He shook his head, even though he wanted to ask her to sit and stay with him a while. Not because he was scared or anything, but he didn’t want her to leave just yet. But she was working and didn’t have time to hold his hand and fuss over him. “Nope, that’s all I need for now. Thank you.”

  Cassie pulled the plug from the wall, wrapped the cord up, and hung it on a hook on the side of the machine. “I’ll—uh—I’ll check back with you in a bit. I’m working until three.”

  “Really, Cassie, you don’t have to. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of work to do, and, like I said, I’m sure the doc will be booting me out of here in a bit. No worries. Don’t come back just to see me.”

  Her face fell, and Stefan felt like he’d kicked her dog, if she had one. Before he could say anything else, though, the curtain opened and one of the nurses entered the cubicle. “How’re you feeling, Mr. Lundquist? Any pain?”

  Stefan tried to smile, but, as he watched Cassie leave with her machine, the corners of his mouth refused to move. “No—no pain.” Except the one in his gut, now that his little pixie was gone.

  7

  Cass left the ICU cubicle, after performing a second EKG on an elderly woman who’d been admitted for a stroke and had then developed an arrhythmia about thirty minutes ago. When Cass had returned to cardiology department earlier, to process the morning’s EKGs, her beeper had gone off again for the new order. She hadn’t needed to bring a machine with her, since the critical care units and the ER had their own.

  She stopped at the nurses’ desk to see if there were any more orders. Finding none, she returned the EKG machine to its usual spot near the nurses’ desk, then stepped into the supply room to replenish the dwindling stock of leads—the stickers the EKG wires were connected to.

  Unable to get her mind off Stefan, Cass had been on autopilot for the past hour. Once she’d finished the other two orders in the ER, she’d fought the urge to check in on him and had returned to the cardiology department. Before processing all the EKGs she’d performed since that morning, Cass had done as requested and contacted Mitch Sawyer. What she hadn’t done was tell him that it was “just indigestion,” as Stefan had tried to insist. She’d been able to read his EKG more than she’d admitted to him. There’d been abnormalities in the thin lines on the graph which coincided with the electrical output of his heart. While the cardiologist would have to confirm it, Cass was pretty sure Stefan had suffered an MI and wouldn’t be going home from the ER like he was hoping he would.

  She hadn’t told Mitch about the probable heart attack. Instead, she’d related how Stefan had been brought in with chest pain but didn’t want to worry anyone. He’d only wanted to cancel his demonstration tonight. Yeah, Sir was probably going to be pissed at her when Mitch showed up to check on him, like he’d told her he would, but she’d deal with that later. Cass knew from past conversations that Stefan didn’t have any close family living in the area—they lived in the Northeast—so it was up to his friends to be his support system in Florida. And, if she was correct about the MI, then he was definitely going to need all the support he could get.

  “Hey, beautiful.” The deep, rumbling voice came from over Cass’s shoulder as she placed the packages of leads into their correct slot on the side of the EKG machine. The words had been spoken close to her ear and had startled her for a moment before she relaxed again. Turning around, she gave the big man a smile. Randall West, one of the hospital’s respiratory therapists, was extremely good-looking and reminded her of the actor Shemar Moore. Unfortunately, though, he was a bit of a player and a huge flirt, although not in a creepy way. Cass didn’t think there was a single female coworker, patient, or visitor who didn’t blush and smile whenever Randall turned on the charm, which he did often. However, even if his flirting and dating throughout the hospital hadn’t been a problem for her, he also didn’t give off a Dom vibe. The one she’d come to easily recognize in men over the years since joining the BDSM community. The one she needed in any relationships or brief encounters now. The one she craved. Despite all that, Randall always did brighten her day whenever she ran into him at the hospital. “I didn’t know you were working today.”

  “Yup, I am. I’m surprised I haven’t seen you before now. I’ve been in every unit more than once, today, with the exception of maternity and pediatrics.”

  “The place is definitely hopping.” He took a seat at the nurses’ station and began typing on a computer keyboard, probably entering a treatment he’d performed on a patient. As he worked, he glanced her way and gave her his signature smile and a teasing wink. Cass knew exactly what was coming next. “So, when are you going to put me out of my misery and agree to go on a date with me, huh?”

  “Hmm. Let’s see. How about two years from now? That’s when I’ll be done with the nursing program, and I’ll have more than five minutes to do something other than work, go to class, and do a ton of homework.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll pencil you in.” Pantomiming, he made a note in an invisible date book. “Two years from today, and I’m holding you to it. So, how’s school going?” Cass had told several people at the hospital that she’d gone back to get her nursing degree. Once she’d enrolled in school again, she’d been so excited about starting her classes, she’d kind of blurted it out during random conversations. Everyone had been happy for her and very encouraging.

  “It’s going good. It took a little bit to get back into a studying routine, but I’m really enjoying it.”

  “Glad to hear it. You’re going to make a helluva nurse. You’re great with people, and one only has to watch you for a minute to know you love working with patients.”

  His compliment had her heart swelling in her chest. She really did love taking care of patients and interacting with them—this wasn’t just a job to her—and it was nice to hear someone else had noticed how much it meant to her. “Thanks, Randall.”

  The overhead speakers of the PA system came to life. “Code Ninety-Nine, Emergency Room. Code Ninety-Nine, Emergency Room.”

  At the alert of a cardiac arrest, Randall jumped to his feet. As the on-call respiratory tech, he was required to respond to all emergencies where the patient had stopped breathing or was having difficulty getting adequate air into their lungs and needed to be intubated and placed on a respirator. Rounding the corner of the nurses’ desk, he gave Cass’s shoulder two pats as he strode quickly past her. “Catch you later, beautiful.”

  Cass waved in his direction, but then she froze as the last few seconds came back to her in a rush. Code Ninety-Nine. Emergency Room. Cardiac Arrest. Master Stefan. Heart Attack. Oh, no, no, no, no, no! It can’t be him! Her own heart pounded in her chest. While it could be any one of the numerous patients in the ER, Cass had a dark feeling of dread.

  After making sure she’d left a copy of the EKG she’d done for the nurses to put in the patient’s file, Cass hurried toward the door to the stairs Randall had taken a moment ago. She ran down the three flights to the ER faster than if she’d taken the elevator. Exiting into the hallway, her heart sank, and she became nauseous when she saw all the activity near the Urgent Care room. While members of the medical team rushed in and out of the room, Cass spotted the two men in uniform from earlier. With them were Masters Mitch and Ian. The grave expressions on their faces said her instincts had been correct. Stefan had gone into cardiac arrest.

  Her feet felt like they were encased in blocks of cement as she trod slowly toward the small group. As if sensing her presence, Ian turned, and his worried gaze met hers. When he closed the distance between them and opened his arms for her, she collapsed into his embrace, tears bursting forth. Ian held her tightly and murmured words of comfort that she couldn’t comprehend. All she could think about was they were performing CPR on the man she loved. Oh, God, how she loved him. He couldn’t die—he just couldn’t. It would destroy her.

  Trying to regain her
composure, she lifted her head from Ian’s shoulders, and he pulled back a few inches so he could look down at her. His startling blue eyes assessed her in an instant. “Are you okay, little one?”

  Cass shook her head because she didn’t trust her voice wouldn’t send her into another crying bout just yet. Mitch stepped over and ran a strong hand up and down her back, but he didn’t say anything. There were no attempts at false hope from either man, only solace, and, for that, she was grateful.

  She wasn’t sure how long they’d stood there before she saw one of the hospital’s cardiologists, Dr. Jonathan Chang, exit the Urgent Care room and tuck a stethoscope into the pocket of his white lab coat. A nurse was by his side as he gave out orders. “Let’s get another twelve-lead EKG on him and cardiac enzymes. Put a catheter in, then call the OR and get an anesthesiologist down here. Tell them we’ll be doing an angiogram as soon as he’s stable. Are there any family members here?” He glanced around.

  The two men from the Coast Guard stepped toward him. Ian, Mitch, and Cass hurried over as one of the men introduced himself to the doctor with a handshake. “I’m Captain Lowe, and this is Master Chief Graves. We’re with the lieutenant commander.”

  The doctor shook both men’s hands. “Captain. Master Chief. I’m Dr. Chang from cardiology.”

  The captain handed him a manila file folder. “This is Stefan’s full medical history from the base—it was just delivered. He doesn’t have any family locally, but I’ll make sure they’re notified as soon as possible. Earlier, he gave the ER physician permission to keep us informed about his condition. How is he?”

  Chang took a deep breath and let it out in a frustrated huff. “Well, he had a massive MI and went into cardiac arrest, but we were able to get his heart started again after a few shocks with the defibrillator. He’s been intubated and put on a respirator to assist his breathing, and once he’s stabilized, he’ll be taken to the OR. An angiogram will tell us what our next steps will be—either angioplasty, a stent, or bypass. We’re doing everything we can, but I have to ask if he has advanced directives concerning his treatment.”

  Cass felt the blood drain from her face. She couldn’t think about things becoming so dire they would stop all life-saving efforts, if Stefan had indicated they should in case it appeared he would be completely and permanently incapacitated. Cass was grateful when, simultaneously, Ian put his arm around her shoulders and Mitch grabbed her by the waist. It was as if they’d sensed her knees had been about to buckle.

  “All that’s in his file,” Lowe responded, somberly. “Is it that bad?”

  The cardiologist shook his head. “No, I don’t think it is—I’m just being cautious. Aside from whatever blockage is going on in his arteries, he’s in good physical condition and that will definitely be an advantage. Of course, I’ll know more after we get him to the OR. I’ll keep you updated.”

  “Thanks, Doctor.” The men shook hands again before Chang walked away. Lowe and Graves exchanged looks of concern with each other, and then the Sawyer cousins. Obviously, they either had all known each other prior to today or Ian and Mitch had been there long enough for the four men to get somewhat acquainted. None of them said anything, and the tense silence hung heavily in the air.

  “Oh, Cass, there you are. I was just about to page you.” She looked up to see one of the ER nurses approaching with a piece of paper in her hand. “We need a STAT cardiogram on bed three in UC.” Seemingly unaware of Cass’s stress and familiarity with the man in Urgent Care, the nurse handed her the order then hurried away.

  Ian squeezed Cass’s shoulder. “Are you going to be okay, Cassandra?”

  She hesitated before nodding. Despite the fact she was scared spitless Stefan might die, she had a job to carry out. She was part of the team that would do everything they could to keep the man alive, even if she only had a small role in it. Pushing aside her personal feelings for professional ones, she cleared her throat. “Um . . . yes, Sir—Ian. I’m good.”

  His frown said he didn’t believe her, but when she straightened her spine, both he and Mitch released her. After retrieving one of the two EKG machines from where they sat when not in use, she wheeled it into the Urgent Care room. The curtains to Stefan’s cubicle were wide open as the nurses and techs continued to work on him. Either Randall or one of the doctors had intubated him, and the respiratory therapist was now adjusting the settings on the machine that was forcing air into Stefan’s lungs.

  Cass stood frozen in place for a moment as she stared at the limp, unresponsive man. Her heart was in her throat while she watched his chiseled chest rise and fall through artificial means. Dr. Chang was one of the best cardiologists in the state of Florida, and if Cass had been the one lying on a gurney, suffering a heart attack, he was the one she’d want working on her. Stefan was in good hands, but he could also use whatever divine intervention Cass could conjure up. It’d been a while since she’d attended church, but once Stefan was in surgery, she’d make a visit to the hospital’s chapel, light a candle, and pray like she’d never prayed before.

  8

  Little Peyton Sawyer slept soundly on her father’s shoulder, as Ian and several family members and friends sat in the surgical waiting room, along with a bunch of Coasties, eagerly anticipating news on Stefan. Ian had convinced his wife, Angie, he could handle his three-month-old daughter on his own for a while, so she could gather with the other women comforting Cassandra on the other side of the room. The young submissive had obviously developed strong feelings for the man who’d been her Dom for nine or ten months, and she was having a rough time right now. After she’d finished her shift, she’d come directly here, still dressed in her hospital scrubs. Somehow, she’d managed to hold it together until she’d spotted Angie, Ian’s sister-in-law Kristen, Shelby Christensen, and Sasha Lewis, and then she’d burst out crying. Her fellow submissives and friends had immediately gone into support warrior mode, taking care of her. It was something they all did well.

  Ian had been a bit surprised when Stefan had informed him Cassandra declined to renew their monthly contract a few weeks ago. He’d known the Dom for almost two years now, and they’d also become friends outside the club. Ian, a retired Navy SEAL, liked to give the other man shit for being a Coastie and got it right back in return. Rivalries between the different branches of the military were standard, but, when it really mattered, they always had each other’s backs.

  While getting to know the lieutenant commander, after he’d joined The Covenant, Ian had discovered how talented the man was with Shibari. He created amazing and intricate designs on submissives and had become a club favorite for demonstrations, his rope scenes always drawing a crowd. From the beginning, Ian had thought Master Stefan would be the perfect Dom for Cassandra, however, the man had spent some time playing with several subs who liked to be tied up in ropes, not committing to any of them. When he’d finally signed a contract with Cassandra, even though it was for one month at a time, it looked like an ideal match had been made. But, for some reason, a few weeks ago, it’d all come to an end, and Ian believed both of them had made a huge mistake in terminating their D/s relationship.

  Ian had only played with Cassandra that one night at the club, about four-and-a-half years ago, before he’d met his beautiful wife. He’d been happy to help her on her path of discovery in the world of BDSM, but he’d wanted her to find a Dom who could give her more than just satisfying her basic need to be restrained. Ian had thought Stefan would be that Dom, and he still believed it—they were good together, even if they didn’t realize it yet.

  After the man pulled through surgery—and he would, damn it—he’d have to make major changes to his life, whether he wanted to or not. Maybe whatever had been holding him and Cassandra back from each other would shift in another direction. One could only hope.

  It was a little after 10:00 p.m. when an older couple walked into the Cardiac Care Unit’s waiting room, escorted by Master Chief Graves, and looked around. Stefan’s parents had go
tten the first available flight from Connecticut to be by their son’s side after Captain Lowe had contacted them. Cassandra recognized them immediately from a few pictures Stefan had scattered about his apartment, but she just realized she’d never learned their first names. Mr. Lundquist was a handsome man—tall and physically fit, with salt-and-pepper hair and soft, brown eyes—and it was easy to see where Stefan had gotten his good looks. His mother was an elegant woman, with green eyes and blonde hair, who complemented her husband well. The two of them made a stunning couple.

  Cass wondered why Stefan’s sister hadn’t come too. From the little she knew of his family, his older sister—Elin, if Cass remembered correctly—also lived in Connecticut, near their parents. She thought Stefan and Elin were relatively close, despite the physical distance between them, so there had to be a reason the woman wasn’t there, worrying about her brother like everyone else.

  The only people still in the waiting room for Stefan were Cassandra, Sasha, and Ian. The rest of his friends and coworkers had gone home after receiving word he’d pulled through the surgery and was in stable condition. A stent had been put in place to increase the blood flow through the artery that had apparently been ninety-five percent blocked, which had caused the MI. Dr. Chang had told Captain Lowe he’d ordered an MRI for tomorrow to try to assess the damage the heart attack had caused. He was optimistic Stefan would make a full recovery over time with rehab.

  Although she’d been incredibly relieved to hear Stefan was going to be okay, Cass was now worried for a different reason. While Stefan had still been in surgery, she’d overheard Captain Lowe and Master Chief Graves talking in the hallway. Apparently, there was a good chance Stefan was going to have to take a medical discharge from the Coast Guard. She knew he’d be crushed if that happened. He was so proud to be a USCG officer and loved what he did. At the age of thirty-eight, what would he do if he couldn’t be a Coastie? He didn’t even have his twenty years of service in yet. From what she knew, he had four more years to go and had planned to stay in the USCG for many years after that. He was too young to be retired.