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Kirill’s throat moves. “I’m being set up.”

Nikolai is shaking his head. “I really tried to give you the benefit of doubt. But I was wrong to show you mercy. I should have killed when I first suspected you.”

My stomach twists.

I remember the pool. Anya pointing at the shiny thing. The wet stone. My hand catching her arm. The cold shock of the water closing over me. I remember Nikolai pulling me out, furious and afraid, and I remember thinking later that it had almost been Anya.

It had almost been Anya.

Kirill looks around the corridor now, as if one of the men might help him.

“I didn’t put anything there.”

“But you knew what I meant.”

“No, sir.”

“You knew enough to ask what charm instead of asking what I was talking about.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“It means you’re frightened.”

Kirill’s voice cracks. “Because you are accusing me of hurting a child.”

“My child.”

“I didn’t hurt her.”

Nikolai moves so fast that Sergei barely catches him in time. He grabs Kirill by the front of his shirt and drives him back against the wall. The sound makes me flinch. A nurse says something sharply, but no one comes closer.

“Nikolai,” Sergei says, one hand locked around his arm. “Not here.”

Nikolai doesn’t look at him. “Tell me who you’re working for,” he says.

“I’m not working for anyone.”

“Tell me.”

“I swear to God, I didn’t touch her.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Kirill looks at Galina again.

There’s something in that look. Not pleading. Not exactly.

“Take him,” Nikolai says. “We’ll deal with him after Anya’s surgery.”

Kirill’s eyes widen. “Sir, please. Please, I have protected Miss Anya for years. You know me.”

“I thought I did.”

“I didn’t push her. I didn’t touch her. Ask Galina again. She was confused. Everyone was confused.”

Two men move in and catch Kirill by the arms.

He fights then. Not enough to get free, but enough that people in the corridor step back. His shoes scrape against the floor, and his voice rises. “Sir, please. I didn’t do it. I don’t know who did, but I didn’t.”