“I don’t want to go back to Vara.” It came out naked, her face devoid of protective shields. “The repair is holding for now. It might be the only window of stability we have for some time.”

“Can you stay?” She was the CEO of a major family. More, she was being watched by unfriendly eyes. “The medication?” he asked, biting back his rage at the ugly drug leash her father had put on her.

“I need a dose of the meds—that’s the biggest hurdle.” Payal chewed her lower lip. “I can do a lot of work remotely.” A small nod. “I’ll tell Lalit and Father that I’ve been inducted into the Ruling Coalition and asked to remain close to Krychek so I can shadow him and learn my new duties.”

“Payal, you don’t have to hide me from them.” It came out hard, a near-snarl.

“Yes, I do.” A solemn statement that cut him to the bone. “Because you’re my person. The only one I have. I need to protect you.”

Canto chafed against restrictions, protections, but when she put it that way … when she looked at him with such raw vulnerability … Fucked. He was fucked. He’d give her anything she wanted. He couldn’t, however, stop himself from muttering, “I’d prefer to just shoot your father and brother, but yeah, that should work. Chances they have a spy in Krychek’s base?”

“Nil. His HQ is airtight—Kaleb is a man who inspires loyalty.”

“I’ll ask him to cover for you.”

He squeezed her hips when she parted her lips to reply. “It won’t be an official request like you’d make, it’ll be one among friends.” Krychek and Mercant were now entwined. “It’s the less complicated way.”

Payal frowned. “No, let me ask. In an unofficial way.”

The way she said it had Canto holding his words. He watched as her gaze went distant, as if she was telepathing. She was back within seconds. “He’s agreed,” she murmured. “He also said he’d answer any other questions I want to ask him.”

A stab of quite ridiculous jealousy had Canto scowling. “Why are you asking him questions?”

“Because he’s like me.” A whisper as her body jerked a little toward Canto. “And he has the life I want.”

Love smashed through every bone in his body, a love so pure and so visceral that it devastated pride and jealousy and anything but the desire to give her what she needed. “Come here, baby.”

She all but melted into him, curling into his lap with her head against his shoulder and one hand on his chest. He wrapped her up, holding her close, this woman who was powerful and complicated and had been deprived of tenderness all her life.

Canto knew zilch about tenderness, but he was a quick study. He’d watched how the bears treated their mates, seen how Arwen was with his bear. And the thing was, it came naturally with Payal. He wanted to hold her, wanted to kiss her stupid, wanted to keep her warm and safe in his arms.

PAYAL could still feel Canto wrapped around her as she stood in front of the comm screen later that afternoon, ready to make the call to her father. Canto himself was upstairs, but she knew he’d be with her in a heartbeat should she need him, their minds entwined.

The broken girl inside her had learned that it wasn’t only okay to lean on him, such things were unremarkable between the two of them. The watchful, robotic part of her had come to the same conclusion: there was no ledger between 3K and 7J. Canto Mercant would give Payal Rao whatever she needed and vice versa.

Because they were each other’s person.

“Payal,” her father said coldly when his aristocratic face appeared onscreen. “What’s the meaning of this disappearing act?”

Her head was heavy, the pain a constant now, but she allowed none of that to show on her face. “I have been inducted into the Ruling Coalition. I wasn’t permitted to speak about the possibility until it was final.”

Pranath Rao was a man who’d long perfected an expressionless—if cold—countenance, but even he blinked in surprise, his posture suddenly straighter. “I’ve heard nothing of this.”

“The official press release will be going out within the next hour.” Ivy Jane had sent her a message alerting her to that fact. “I was permitted that time to advise my family unit.”

“I must admit you’ve caught me unprepared,” Pranath confessed. “Why did they approach you? Gia Khan has always been the front-runner in our region when it comes to politics.”

“I’m a hub-anchor, Father. A powerful one who is currently holding Delhi together.” This wasn’t the time to be modest about her abilities; her father reacted to power and she’d use that weakness against him. “The Coalition wants an anchor presence, and they need an A who is both stable and able to understand business. As for the approach, I made it on behalf of Designation A.”

Before Pranath could interrupt, she continued, “Given my sudden elevation to Coalition-member status, I’ve been asked to stay in Moscow and liaise with Kaleb Krychek for approximately two weeks, to ensure that I know my duties and can access all necessary databases.” It was the longest she could be physically away from her anchor zone.

Avarice fairly pulsed off her father. “Payal, I could’ve never predicted this, and I’m certain I won’t believe it until I see the release, but well done, daughter.”

She inclined her head. “I can deal with family business matters remotely, but I don’t also need to be dealing with Lalit. At present, he’s attempting to break into my personal quarters.” An angry Canto had just passed her that information.

Her father nodded. “I’ll pull him into line—and I’ll put aside two vials of your medication for you to pick up.”

“I’d appreciate it if you could courier it to my secure Coalition box in Moscow.” A service that had been put automatically in place once she was accepted into the group and had stated her aim of staying in Moscow for the time being. “I need to maintain my energy levels to deal with Krychek.”

“Agreed.”

“Father, courtesy of the recent fractures in the Net in our area, I’ll need a dose within the next two hours. Can you have a teleport courier make the delivery by then?”

“I’ll organize it now.” A ten-second pause in his feed. When he reappeared, he said, “It’ll be there within the next five minutes.” His eyes bore into her. “Remember your family, Payal. You wouldn’t have been chosen for this position if you weren’t the Rao CEO. I put you there.”