Page 51 of A Rebel's Shot

Merritt’s eyes widened and darted to the one bed inthe room, her heart skipping a beat at the thought of Tiikâan staying with her.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said, even as a part of her longed for him to stay, to keep the monsters from crawling out from under the bed.

“I want to,” Tiikâan said, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. “I’ll sleep on the floor. You just focus on getting some rest.”

“But––”

“Merritt, I’m used to sleeping outside on the ground.” His mouth tipped up on one side, making her stomach flip like a fish on a line. “Trust me. I’ll be fine.”

Merritt nodded, but she wanted to argue. She watched as Tiikâan grabbed a spare pillow and blanket from the closet, setting up a makeshift bed on the floor beside her own, and pushed the guilt aside.

The king bed was more than big enough for both of them. But she also knew that she’d long for the comfort of his arms, and she just didn’t have the strength at the moment to fight the desire.

As she climbed into bed, the soft mattress enveloping her like a cocoon, she couldn’t help but steal glances at Tiikâan, his form illuminated by the soft glow of the midnight sun finding its way through the spaces between the heavy drapes he’d pulled shut.

He looked so peaceful, so at ease…capable.

Yeah, but Dad had been, too.

TWENTY

The heaviness of the past few days’ discoveries and the challenges ahead bore down on Merritt like the oppressive, cloudy, Alaskan sky as she stepped into the family home back in Barrow.

The familiar scent of her father’s favorite coffee blend mingled with the overpowering scent of Joni’s perfume, giving her an instant headache.

As she made her way through the living room, her gaze fell on the family photos that lined the side table, snapshots of a time when things were not necessarily happy, but were simpler, when her father’s presence filled her life and held things together.

She could imagine him there, in that ridiculously big house he’d built on the edge of the earth, his voice and influence booming to the walls and rafters. He was never just in a space. He consumed it. Without him, the rooms felt cold and empty.

“Well, look who finally decided to grace us withher presence.” Joni’s sharp voice cut through the silence, jolting Merritt from her thoughts.

She turned to see her stepmother standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and her lips pursed in a thin line of disapproval.

“Joni, I don’t have time for this.” Merritt pushed past Joni to the hallway. “I have a lot of work to do.”

Joni scoffed, her eyes narrowing. “Really? Because while I’ve been here in this godforsaken sinkhole of a town your father forced me to, slaving away to save the image of the business I helped your father built, you’ve been what? Taking in a ‘guided’ tour of Alaskan scenes with that Podunk pilot who’s been panting for a bit of attention?”

Merritt bristled at the accusation, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

She wanted to lash out, to tell Joni exactly what she thought of her constant criticism and belittling remarks. But she knew that engaging would only make things worse, that it would give Joni the satisfaction of knowing she’d gotten under her skin.

“Wow, Jo. Your Cruella meter needs to be turned down a few notches there.”

Merritt held her finger and thumb up and pretended to adjust a knob before dropping her hand to her side. “Not that I need to fill you in, but I was meeting with people to help us with the environmental problem. I’m trying to save this company.”

Joni let out a harsh laugh, the sound grating against Merritt’s nerves. “You’re trying? That’s rich, comingfrom you. You don’t have a clue what you’re doing, Merritt. You’re in over your head, and everyone knows it.”

Merritt felt the sting of Joni’s words like a physical blow. She knew that she was out of her depth, that she was struggling to navigate the complex web of politics and power plays that surrounded the mine. But she also knew that she couldn’t give up.

Without another word, Merritt turned and walked away, leaving Joni to stew in her own bitterness and resentment.

She made her way to her office, the one place in the house where she could stand being, surrounded by her father’s journals, the maps, and reports that held the key to unlocking the truth about her father’s death and the mine’s future.

As she settled into her chair, a knock rapped on the doorframe. Nolan stood in the doorway, his expression a mix of concern and something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

“Joni’s in fine form this morning,” Nolan said, his tone light and teasing as he stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. “I see she’s rolled out the welcome wagon for you.”

Merritt groaned, rubbing her forehead as the headache turned into a migraine behind her eyes.

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