Page 172 of Cruel Demands

“Olga,” I say.

She turns toward me, and something like pity crosses her face. “Taylor, this is not something you should involve yourself in.”

“I think we’re past that.”

Another contraction catches me. Harder. I curl one hand around the edge of a counter.

Nikita notices immediately. Her hand lands against my back. “There.”

I breathe through it. Mikhail turns. “What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“That was not nothing.”

“It’s really not important right now.”

“You are in pain.”

“I am thirty-seven weeks pregnant and have spent the morning being kidnapped. I’m stressed,” I say. The doctor takes a step toward me. I hold up one hand. “Give me a second.”

Olga looks between us. Then at Orlov. His body is being lifted from the chair. “Mikhail, if he leaves this hospital⁠—”

“What?” he asks. “You arrest me?”

“Yes.”

“All right.”

The room goes quiet. I turn toward him. Olga looks equally startled. “That is all you have to say?”

“What would you prefer?”

I look toward Orlov’s body. Then back at her. “If you arrest him right now, what happens?”

“He is charged.”

“I mean to everything else.” Outside, the police radios and chatter grow louder, more insistent. There is pounding on doors. I continue, “Orlov’s people are still out there.”

“I know…” She’s hesitant, looking behind her like I may have conjured them by saying it.

“His contractors. Police. Officials. Whatever else. If Mikhail gets walked out of here in handcuffs in front of every camera in Moscow, what do they do?” She remains silent, her face blank, but I know she’s considering it. “They run,” I say. “They burn things. They move money. They call each other. Whatever people like them do when they know someone is coming.”

Mikhail watches me. Olga looks back at Orlov, and then her eyes meet mine, and she says, “And then the investigation becomes more difficult.”

“And the reform?” I ask. A strange warmth moves between my legs.

“Taylor.”

“No, what happens to the reform?”

“Taylor.”

“Just think about it. If you⁠—”

Mikhail speaks behind me. “By morning, every member of the coalition will distance himself from my name. Appropriations will be frozen. Every contractor attached to the hospital project will be reviewed. Legitimate or not.”

Olga stops talking. Her eyes drop to the ground. I keep mine fixed on Mikhail as he continues, “Teachers will lose raises. Hospital renovations will stop. Medical programs will be delayed. Orlov’s allies will call it oversight while redirecting the money.”