ODDS OF LOVE SEASON TWELVE

Episode 44

Rebel reached out to pull Reese's shaking body against himself and cradled the back of his friend's head as they stood in the small office the ER staff had allowed Reese to use to hide from persistent fans and media.

" It's going to be ok. They're going to get this bastard , Reese . Dom will make sure of this. He is going to the police  here. He is going to make sure this guy is caught. Eric was a cop back in New York. And you are Reese Malden. I'm putting up a reward of a million dollars for information on this beast. This is not going to go easy for this asshole. "

Reese clutched  his fellow singer's arms. He could still hear his husband's voice in his head. He could hear Eric saying, " I love you, Doc". He could feel his lips pressed against his own. He could smell his incredible musky scent. He wanted his husband right now. He didn't want Rebel ! In a way he hated Rebel right now. Rebel still had his husband. Whole and safe and.......

" Dom texted me," Rebel whispered. " Eric went down fighting it looks like. That's why the guy...... He took his mask. He has skin under his nails. Bruised knuckles. Your man was fighting. He's a brave man. "

Reese didn't want Eric to be brave. He wanted him to be safe beside him. He pulled away from Rebel with his body still shaking badly.

He remembered holding his body. Praying over him. Trying to stop the bleeding. Eric had lost so much blood. Too much. He had tried to do CPR. Why ..... Why ..... He was a damn doctor...... How could he not save his own husband.....

His voice trembled as he murmured," They want his organs. They want to cut into him. I know he is an organ donor but why do I have to decide this now? I remember when I would ask about organ donation with the families when I was in the ER. What a dick I was. Why do I have to decide this ! "

Rebel sighed. " Because it's what Eric wanted. He was a hero. He was a hero as a cop. He saved you from the serial killer in New York. He saved a lot of people. He saved more by fighting back and unmasking this guy, getting DNA evidence on him. And by donating he will save even more. Donate his organs for him , Reese. "

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" I'm not marrying you. "

Nicholas Volkouv considered himself a gentle man. An intelligent man. A shrewd man. One that now moved within the constraints of the law. He knew how his father would have handled this situation with Sylvia Cooper. He knew exactly how he should handle it. But could he? Could he physically harm Jenessa's daughter? To save his own good name ? To save his family from embarrassment? He was not sure......

" I'm not marrying you," he repeated as he grabbed her by her arms. " I want proof that you are pregnant. Once I get the proof then I require more proof that it's mine. If it's my child I will provide a good life for him or her but I will never marry you. Never. "

Sylvia smirked at him. " Fine. I did a home pregnancy test. It's in my room. If you want me to get another test done at a clinic that's fine. I'll even do a paternity test. I have nothing to hide. " She stepped closer to him and placed her hands on his chest. She could feel his chest beating so rapidly. She could almost smell the anger and fear emanating from his body and skin. " You don't have to marry me but I want you to set me up with a penthouse apartment in New York City. I need to be close to my salons anyway. And I want a monthly allowance from you. One hundred thousand dollars a month. "

His hands rose up almost instinctively until they wrapped around her long slim neck. Her eyes widened as they tightened around her neck, causing her to choke and sputter even as she stood there. Her hands tried to push him off of her but he was too strong.

Dear Lord, she thought with panic. Dear Lord. Someone..... Please.... Help her...... Tears flew to her eyes as he continued to squeeze tighter and tighter.

Her hands banged on his chest as her eyes grew blurry.

Then Nicholas released his hold on her neck. She fell back and almost landed on the hardwood floor.

" You bastard ! ," she said in a hoarse and raspy voice. "You tried to kill me ! I'm calling the police."

Nicholas smiled coldly. " Do it. I can buy the police ten times over. Who do you think they will believe? A rich prominent man like myself ? Or a cold heartless insane bigot who abandoned her own child to her brother last year? Get out of my house. Leave the state. Go back to New Jersey. If you provide proof you are pregnant and that it is mine I will take proper care of my child. Family is everything to me. You are no longer family to me. If you don't leave tonight I will kill you. And they will never find you again. " His chilled smile grew. " I still have a lot of connections. Even though I am perfectly legit now. "