Page 60 of A Rebel's Shot

“How much farther?” Nolan grumbled from behind them.

“Let’s get past this set of pillars.” Tiikâan pointed to ajagged row of tall ice teeth in front of them. “They’ll help block the wind.”

“It’s perfect.” She led the way, determined to be the positive opposite of what her uncle was being.

She made her way between two of the columns. Once through, the light from her headlamp still disappeared into the dark belly of the cave. Just how far did it reach?

As she walked, she scanned the walls and ceiling. The temperature felt warmer back there. Definitely not warm, but not frigid, either.

Her next step met air. She pinwheeled her arms as she fell forward toward rushing water.

“Whoa!” Tiikâan jerked her to a halt by the backpack and swung her backward into his arms.

“Holy cow.” She trembled as she burrowed into his chest. “Where the heck did that water come from?”

“It’s the snowmelt.” Tiikâan rubbed her back before holding her in a tight squeeze against him. “Basically, every summer there’s probably an underground river from the heat. Another month and we might not even be able to walk in here.”

“That’s scary.”

“Yeah. Fall in and who knows how long it will take before you come out from under the ice.”

She shivered, and he held her tighter.

“I guess your perfect was the right word after all,” Nolan said.

Merritt turned to him, confused by his tone. She froze when the light from her headlamp glinted off the pistolpointed at her.

“Nolan?” Her voice trembled at her uncle’s sneering face.

His twisted smile made her knees weak. “I couldn’t ask for a more perfect place to get rid of you.”

TWENTY-THREE

Tiikâan stared at the gun pointing between him and Merritt and tightened his grip on Merritt’s backpack strap. Why had Merritt given the weapon to Nolan? Oh yeah, because who would’ve guessed the uncle was the psychopath?

Tiikâan clenched his jaw and raised his gaze to meet Nolan’s. If he was going to die, he wanted death to look him in the eye. Sure, he’d always thought his battle with life would be with a grizzly or a plane crash.

He never imagined it would be looking in the wild eyes of a crazed lunatic.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why.” Nolan’s bored voice shot anger through Tiikâan, especially when the man continued in a false whining tone. “Why are you doing this?”

Merritt sucked in a sob, her body trembling against his hand holding her pack strap. Tiikâan moved closer. Everything in him wanted to put himself between the gun and her.

Nolan shook his head. “Stay.”

Tiikâan stopped.

Nolan smirked. “Good dog.”

Tiikâan’s eyes narrowed, and he barely stifled the growl in his throat. He wanted to rip into Nolan’s throat and tear his gloating head from his shoulders.

But if Tiikâan didn’t figure out a solution and fast, both he and Merritt would end in the same fate as her father. At least now they knew who had betrayed her.

He darted his eyes around the cavern. There wasn’t anywhere he could push her behind, not with Nolan positioned in front of the columns of ice they’d just passed through.

Tiikâan doubted he could charge Nolan and get the gun. His hold on the weapon was too steady and sure.

Nolan took a step forward. Merritt stumbled back. Tiikâan followed, pulling her to a stop before she slipped into the water. He tried to scan the water’s edge to see if there was something they could hide behind like the columns, but all he saw was black.

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