Page 59 of Wicked Vows (Suvorov Bratva 2)

“Yes, pakhan.”

He bows his head and then turns, heading back into the lobby. I half expect Liya to jump up and bark something at him, but she seems more occupied by the papers in front of her.

I stare at her immobile body.No response is a response.

Several minutes later, Liya and I leave the office to head to the basement. Dr. Atlee joins us in the lobby, rushing alongside us. It’s not until we’re at the bottom of the basement steps that I point to the cell where Kiril is slumped on a makeshift bed. “You have to treat him.”

Her face pales as her eyes widen. “I’m not a surgeon, Pavel Sergeyevich.”

“You’re adoctor. Stabilize him.”

She shakes her head. “He needs to get to a hospital where they can perform surgery.”

“Does he need surgery, Dr. Atlee?”

She shrugs. “I can’t tell.”

I take her shoulder firmly and guide her toward the cell. “Then you will do what you can to stabilize him.”

“But if he needs a hospital—”

“A hospital will be his death sentence.”

The look I give her tells her I won’t repeat myself. Though she hardly needs reminding. She knows who I am and what I’m capable of doing.

But no matter how hard I stare at her, she simply doesn’t budge.

“Dr. Atlee,” Liya says gently but firmly. “We need your help. Won’t you try?”

“It’s just not my field, Liya,” Dr. Atlee says respectfully. “If he dies under my care, I won’t be able to live with that.”

Liya crosses her arms over her chest. “So, it’s a matter of conscience, then?”

“It’s more than that. It’s my license, my practice.”

“You took an oath. It’s the same oath I’ll be taking.” Liya nods toward the cell. “Honor your oath, and you’ll be compensated for your time.”

Dr. Atlee holds up her hands. “I can’t get involved.”

“It’s a little late for that, doctor,” Liya responds with a harsh tone. “You’re already here. You’ve seen. Youknowhe’s dying in there, don’t you?”

“Well, I—”

Liya advances, causing the doctor to step back. “Then I’m sure you are well aware of the implications of what may happen if you don’t treat him, don’t you? Surely you’re aware that a license may not be the only thing you lose today.”

The look that passes between them ices my heart. A silent agreement is being made, the same way they are made in the cruel power structure that pervades the gulags of Russia. After a moment of silence, Dr. Atlee bows her head.

“I’ll do my best,” she concedes.

An uneasy feeling slams into me as Dr. Atlee jogs into the cell. Kiril makes an inaudible request to which Dr. Atlee responds that she’ll do her best. I hear sheets rustling, instruments clacking on a tray, water running.

“Right there,” she instructs Kostya. “Apply more pressure—perfect.”

It’s being handled. And that’s the most important part.

Except it’s because something about Liya has changed.

Drastically.

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