Page 52 of A Rebel's Shot

“She’s always been a delight, hasn’t she?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “I don’t know how Dad put up with her for so long.”

Nolan chuckled, settling into the chair across fromMerritt’s desk. “Your father had a talent for dealing with difficult people. It’s what made him such a successful businessman.”

Merritt sighed, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes for a moment.

She knew that Nolan was right, that her father had been a master at navigating the treacherous waters of corporate politics and family drama. But she also knew that she was not her father, that she had neither his experience nor his ruthless streak.

“So, who did you meet with in Fairbanks?” Nolan asked, his voice cutting through her thoughts. “Anyone who can help us with the mine?”

Merritt sat up straighter, her eyes snapping open. She studied Nolan for a moment, weighing her options. She knew that she needed allies, that she didn’t have enough knowledge in mining to confront the problem on her own. But her dad’s warning blared in her head.

She swallowed and chose to trust. “I met with Dr. Erikson, the geologist Dad hired to investigate the mine’s safety. He had evidence that the mine’s plans for mitigating AMD are inadequate, that the risks are far greater than what’s been publicly disclosed.”

“What kind of evidence?” Nolan leaned forward, his voice sharp.

Merritt took a deep breath, her heart racing as she pulled out the folder containing Dr. Erikson’s findings. She slid it across the desk to Nolan, watching as he flipped through the pages, his expression growing more and more grave with each passing second.

“This is serious, Merritt,” he said, looking up at herwith worry. “If this information gets out, it could destroy the company.”

Merritt nodded, her stomach twisting. “I know.” She let out a sigh in a whoosh. “But we can’t ignore it, Nolan. We have to do something.”

Nolan sat back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin as he considered her words. “What did you have in mind?”

Merritt leaned forward. “I took Dr. Erikson out to the mine to work with the HEAS team.” Her voice grew stronger with each word. “I want him to conduct a thorough, independent assessment of the potential for AMD and develop a plan to take care of it.”

Nolan’s eyebrows shot up, surprise flickering across his face. “That’s a bold move. Are you sure you want to take that risk? If word gets out that we’re bringing in an outside expert, it could raise a lot of questions.”

Merritt shook her head, her jaw set with determination. “I don’t care about the questions. I care about doing what’s right.”

Nolan studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face, a glimmer of pride shining in his eyes.

“You’re just like your father, you know that?” His voice, warm with affection, eased some of the worry she’d had in telling Nolan. “He would be so proud of you, Merritt.”

Merritt felt a lump form in her throat, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She blinked them away, determined not to let her emotions get the best of her.

Nolan reached across the desk, his hand coveringMerritt’s. “Your father made the right decision, leaving you in charge. It shocked the heck out of everyone, but maybe that’s exactly what this company needs right now.”

Merritt looked up at him, surprise etched across her features. She had always assumed that Nolan, like the rest of her family, doubted her ability to lead.

“You really think so?”

Nolan nodded, his grip on her hand tightening. “I know so.” His tone left no room for doubt. “You have a strength and an integrity that’s rare in this business, Merritt. You’re not afraid to do what’s right, even when it’s hard.”

A surge of emotion washed over her, a mix of gratitude and relief that pushed the tears right out of her eyes before she could stop them. She had been carrying the weight of her father’s legacy on her shoulders, fighting against the tide of doubt and criticism that seemed to come from every direction.

To hear Nolan, one of the few people whose opinion truly mattered to her, express his faith in her was like a balm to her battered soul.

“Thank you, Nolan.” She swallowed, her voice thick with emotion. “That means more to me than you know.”

Nolan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m just speaking the truth, pumpkin. Your dad knew what he was doing when he chose you.”

Merritt took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she knew she had to do next. “I’m heading out to the mine as soon as Tiikâan gives me the heads-up he’s ready.I need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to get this fixed.”

Nolan’s expression grew serious, his brow furrowing with concern. “Merritt, I know you feel like you need to handle this on your own, but I can’t let you go out there alone. Not with everything that’s at stake.”

Merritt opened her mouth to protest, to insist that she could take care of herself, but Nolan held up a hand to stop her.

“I know you’re capable. But this isn’t just about the mine anymore. If what Dr. Erikson says is true, then there are people out there who will do anything to keep this information from getting out. People who might be willing to hurt you to protect their interests.”

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