Page 92 of A Rebel's Shot

She bit her lower lip so hard she tasted blood.

Tiikâan pressed a kiss to her neck. Scorching heat filled her cheeks as she darted her gaze to his entire family waiting in the office with them, as well as a few troopers and his friend, Declan. She elbowed him, hoping the quick shake of her head gave him the signal to knock it off.

He just laughed and kissed her on the temple. She closed her eyes and let the warmth of his arms pulling her against him push some of the tension aside.

The chaotic voices of so many people talking had her wondering if all the Rebel get-togethers were like that.

Bjørn and Magnus’ exuberant greeting at the cabin was overwhelming enough, but to have the entire Rebel gang waiting at the Barrow airport had had Merritt almost wishing a bear would walk across the tarmac to cause a distraction.

But when Katie Rebel had pulled Merritt into her arms, tears running down her face as she’d thanked God for bringing the two of them home to her, Merritt knew any amount of overwhelm would be worth being a part of the Rebel family.

Their love was just too big not to be sucked in.

“Ready?” Astryde’s question snapped Merritt’s eyes open.

No, she wasn’t.

But she probably never would be.

“Let’s get this over with.” She straightened her shoulders.

Part of her wanted to pull the frigid, ice queenprotection back on. Slipping into that role would make what was about to happen so much easier to handle.

Tiikâan took her hand and squeezed. “You’ve got this.”

She gripped his hand and nodded. Hiding behind the façade wasn’t an option for her anymore.

Strength wasn’t calculating and cold like she’d assumed.

No.

True strength was honoring your beliefs and convictions, protecting those around you, and doing your best to leave the world better than when you entered.

Her father had done that.

She’d just been too blinded by her own hurt from him marrying Joni to see it.

Her father’s legacy no longer suffocated her.

And she wouldn’t allow Nolan to take any more from her than he already had.

Pushing through the office door, she strode confidently toward the meeting room Nolan was holding the press conference in. His voice reached her before she saw him, his words fueling her anger.

“Merritt was the daughter I never had.” Nolan’s voice cracked, and Merritt rolled her eyes.

Press crowded in the chairs filling the room, and cameras lined the back of the room. Her uncle stood behind a podium with the Harland Global Resources emblem hanging from it. The picture of her, her dad, and Nolan propped on an easel behind him made her blood boil.

“My brother and Merritt will forever leave a hole in my heart and in HGR.”

Oh, please.

“Really?” Merritt stepped into the room and crossed her arms. “Because before you tried to kill me, you clearly said Dad and I were detrimental to you getting rich.”

The cameras and reporters swiveled to her. Satisfaction tingled over her like the rush of a river as Nolan’s skin paled and he stumbled backward.

“Merritt?” Silas gasped her name, and she couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed her stepfamily standing off to the side of Nolan.

Silas pressed the back of his hand to his mouth, his head shaking as his eyes went glassy.

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