Page 93 of A Rebel's Shot

“How… how—” Nolan stuttered, pulling her attention back to her uncle.

“Because I think you deserve to know the truth before you rot in jail for the rest of your life, I’m going to answer the insipid question.” Merritt smirked, loving the surge of power throwing his own words back at him gave her.

Tiikâan stifled a laugh and whispered behind her, “So awesome.”

Buoyed by his support and the support she felt from his family behind her, she stepped farther into the room.

“You shouldn’t have counted me for dead so fast. You should know us Harlands are tenacious when it comes to getting what we want. And, well, I wanted to live more than you wanted me dead.”

“That’s not?—”

“You aren’t going to undermine and steal Dad’s legacy,” she cut him off. “His integrity and vision will no longer be tainted by you.”

“Why, you little?—”

Silas’ punch to Nolan’s face snapped his head back and shut off his words. He shook his head, weaving like he was off-balance.

“Nolan Harland, you’re under arrest for the attempted murder of Merritt Harland and Tiikâan Rebel, and for the murder of Clayton Harland.” Astryde’s trooper friend took out her handcuffs and walked down the aisle between the chairs of reporters.

Rachel gasped, and Joni stumbled against her daughter, her face white.

“Do you have any idea who I am?” Nolan gripped the podium to steady himself, his face blotched red with anger.

The trooper’s partner followed behind her with his firearm drawn and pointed down.

The trooper in charge continued over Nolan’s talking. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.”

She stopped in front of him and cocked her head. “Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?”

Tiikâan’s hand soothed across Merritt’s lower back, resting on her hip. She leaned into him. Her uncle couldfight all he wanted, but she’d never stop until he paid for murdering her dad.

A shriek pulled her attention away from Nolan to the troopers confronting Joni.

“Joni Harland, you’re under arrest for accessory to the murder of Clayton Harland.”

“What?” Her shrill voice filled the room. “No. It was all Nolan. I didn’t have anything to do with that.”

“Mother? How could you?” Rachel covered her face, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

The room exploded into chaos as reporters shot questions at Nolan, Merritt, and Joni. Joni continued her shrieking as the troopers cuffed her, spewing Nolan’s dirty secrets faster than a drill striking oil.

Nolan’s frigid calm as he speared Merritt with a hateful glare tore her heart out of her chest.

How could the man she loved and trusted be so evil?

As the troopers led Nolan and Joni out of the room and the reporters shouted questions, Silas pushed his way through the crowd.

“Merritt!” He broke free and rushed to her.

She tensed, and Tiikâan’s hand tightened on her waist. In her periphery, several of the Rebels stepped up next to her.

“Thank God, Merritt.” Silas wrapped her in a hug, his shoulders shaking as he buried his face in her neck and cried. “I thought I’d lost you, too.”

He held her tight, apologizing for being a jealous jerk and not noticing Nolan’s actions. She sobbed as she forgave him, her heart soaring at the brotherly love pouring from him.

Why had they let so much come between them?

Silas pulled back and wiped his face on his sleeve. He turned to Tiikâan and held out his hand.

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