Valley of Stars (The Merriams Book 3)

by Ava Miles

  “Connor’s here?” she heard Boyd say from behind her.

  Turning, she saw Michaela doing her best to run after him, breathing hard. “God knows what Iggie told him,” Clara responded. “Let me handle this.”

  “I might share a little blame there,” Boyd said, making a face, “which I’ll explain later. In the meantime, you might want to make sure the flowers are safe.”

  “Do I look stupid, Boyd? It’s taken care of. Come!”

  Connor and Iggie were approaching them, ducking low since the helicopter’s pilot hadn’t cut the engine. Women were huddling against the huts, their children clutching their red Shúkàs. Oh, this was outrageous. She saw the chief and elders approaching with Naserian and Lemayian, warriors at their sides.

  Someone needed to put a stop to this. No, she needed to put a stop to this.

  Not bothering to see if the others were following, she advanced to the group of warriors circling the helicopter. They wouldn’t like her ordering them around, but she was their elder. “Let us pass.” No one was close enough to translate, so she made a shooing motion with her hands. They bowed and made an opening in their line. She watched the soldiers with Connor dip their weapons in response. Bunch of testosterone junkies, all of them. It made her sick.

  “Connor Albert Merriam!” she called out loud enough to stop the man in his tracks. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing? Didn’t you get Boyd’s message?”

  Iggie only glared at her—the odious man!—but Connor yanked on his well-tailored navy suit and strode forward. “Yes, but I decided to make sure for myself that everyone was still alive,” he snarled.

  “Of course we’re alive,” Arthur spat out. “We conveyed that in two messages, for God’s sake, one to Simon and the one from Boyd.”

  The chopper noise was deafening. “Turn that damn machine off so we don’t have to shout at each other.”

  Her nephew turned his head and made a slashing motion to his throat, which made the warriors raise their spears again. The engine died finally, and the quiet was a boon to her ears.

  “Calm down, everyone,” she said, holding up her hand.

  Chief Mingati approached with his entourage and called out something in Maa, which made the warriors lower their weapons.

  Introductions might be the best way to kick off the détente they clearly needed. “Connor, this is Chief—”

  “Not right now, Aunt,” he spat, fists at his side. “Now—”

  “You have a lot of nerve, coming in here with armed guards, especially after I left you a message,” Boyd said, stepping up beside her.

  Iggie gave a haughty sniff. “After what Boyd—”

  “Not now, Iggie,” Connor interrupted. “Your first message said you’d lost the sat phone, but when Iggie reached your guides, some fearsome warrior refused to tell him where everyone had gone and barred him from finding you.”

  “I had to have bodyguards after that encounter,” Iggie said. “Look at them. Hostile savages.”

  Michaela inhaled sharply as she joined them. “They’re not hostile. They only barred you, Iggie, because you need the chief’s permission to enter these lands. Visitors are only welcomed in with an approved guide from the village. Connor, Boyd left your assistant—”

  “He called from a phone registered to a medevac company. Yes, I had it back-traced. Why wouldn’t I think the worst, Michaela?”

  “We lost the sat phone when Boyd and I fell into the river,” Michaela responded. “Then I got sick—”

  “So you were in danger!” Connor lurched forward and grabbed Boyd by the shirt. “Did you hurt her?”

  “See here!” Arthur shouted, stepping forward. “Get a hold of yourself. Boyd didn’t tell you Michaela had been ill because she was recovering fine, which the doctors had confirmed, and there was no reason to cause alarm.”

  “Even with this misunderstanding, Connor, why would you show up like this?” Michaela asked. “We’ve heard about adjacent villages being terrorized—”

  “We were worried about you, Michaela, and Uncle Arthur and Aunt Clara and Hargreaves,” Connor ground out. “I didn’t tell anyone in the family you were missing. You were my responsibility. No one in these hills would tell Iggie anything, not even when I joined him. I couldn’t trust anything in those messages after what Boyd did to Iggie.” He pointed to Boyd. “You and I are going to come to terms at a later date, McClellan, but now that I know everyone is unharmed, all I want to know is whether we have the flower. Michaela?”

  Clara had heard from the other Merriam siblings that Connor had taken his cousin’s death hard, but this went beyond that. He’d jumped off the deep end. “What do you think Boyd did to Iggie, my boy?” Clara asked. “Given the appalling way that man treated Hargreaves and Joseph, it wasn’t near what he deserved.”

  “Thanks, Clara,” Boyd said with a grimace. “I should probably explain—”

  “He bribed someone in Customs to hold me,” Iggie shouted, pointing at Boyd. “How can we be sure he didn’t poison Michaela or something? He wants the flower all for himself. I mean, it would look like an accident amongst such primitives.”

  Clara couldn’t believe the audacity of Iggie’s insult, and the chief and his English-speaking party inhaled sharply at the offense. She was still reeling, but her mind shifted to Iggie’s comment about Boyd. Could it be true? He’d alluded to something moments ago, but he hadn’t had time to explain. “Iggie, you hold your tongue. Connor, Michaela became ill after falling into the river. Boyd had nothing to do with it. Don’t be an idiot. He wouldn’t steal the flower or do anything to hurt her. He loves her.”

  “And yet he made sure to get Iggie out of the way,” Connor said in a hard tone. “Boyd, you told Michaela Iggie could catch up when he was released, but you knew he wouldn’t be allowed into the village. This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”

  “Connor, stop this!” Michaela shouted. “Boyd wouldn’t do that.”

  He made a rude sound. “Mickey, you’re in la-la land again. Boyd has been playing you to get what he wants.”

  “You’re the one who made me come along.” Michaela turned to Boyd. “Is it true about Iggie?”

  His mouth worked before he nodded. “But not because I intended to steal the flower for myself. I’ve always wanted us to do this together! You and me, Mickey. I don’t trust Iggie”—he paused, as if considering how much to say, then added—“and I thought it would be easier to get you back if he were delayed. I’m not proud of it, but I’d do it again. He’s a jerk, and the way he showed up here proves I was right.”

  “You’ll never have the flower after this, Boyd,” Iggie said, his face red. “This is the end of your pitiful career.”

  “How dare you—”

  Michaela held up a hand. “Enough. Boyd,” she said, turning to him, “why didn’t you tell me about this? Especially after we got back together?”

  “You’re back together?” Connor shoved Boyd back two steps before Boyd shoved him back.

  Sironka rushed forward and stepped between the two, Clara was pleased to see.

  “You stay out of this!” Connor pointed to the warrior and then back to Boyd. “How dare you use my sister like that! You’re going to pay for hurting her.”

  Boyd turned to Michaela and took her hands. “Mickey, please listen. I was going to tell you, but then you got sick. Will you look at me and judge for yourself? You know when I’m telling the truth.”

  Clara watched her niece study Boyd, her eyes roving over his face. Well, Clara knew the truth. She hoped her niece would come to the same conclusion.

  “I believe you, Boyd,” she finally said.

  “You’re acting nonsensical again, Michaela,” Connor said, taking her arm. “Your feelings for him have always clouded your judgment. I’m going to have to make you see reason. But later. Get the flower and we’ll leave.”

  Clara couldn’t believe her ears. Boyd must have felt the same way, because he put Michaela behind him and grabbed Conno
r by the shirt. The mercenary with the worst buzz-cut stepped forward and yelled, “Step away from Mr. Merriam.”

  “Stay back,” Connor threw over his shoulder to the guard. “You want a piece of me, Boyd? Our deal is more than off. I’m going to bury you, McClellan. In fact, Merriam Enterprises will never work with you again, and I’ll see to it none of our partners do either.”

  “Connor!” Michaela yelled.

  Boyd drew him closer until their faces were inches apart. “I should clock you for breaking our deal, but I won’t because I got Iggie out of the way, and that’s on me. But you should know this, Connor. Michaela and I don’t have the flower.”

  Clara caught the glance he sent Michaela’s way asking her to play along.

  “You should go and leave these people in peace,” Boyd continued, shoving Connor back at last. “God knows you’ve raised enough of an alarm for a few decades. It’s funny, but until now, I was so upset that I forgot the other part of the elders’ visions. You know the one, Clara. It’s about a man with darkness coming and trying to take the flower. Don’t be that guy, Connor.”

  Clara had to give the boy points for his straightforward manner, and Arthur seemed to think so too by the squeeze he gave her arm. “Listen to him, Connor,” she added.

  “Boyd’s right,” Michaela said. “Coming here, especially with armed men, was a mistake.”

  “Your concern for our safety is appreciated, but this misunderstanding and your aggressive response is unfortunate,” Clara said. “You should leave.”

  “They’re trying to get rid of us,” Iggie said, his beady eyes narrowing. “I don’t like this, Connor. Boyd and Michaela have been here for days getting all chummy with the natives. I don’t buy their story.”

  Clara didn’t like the ripple that went through her gut when Connor said, “Neither do I. Where’s Hargreaves? He’s never far from you, Aunt.”

  This interrogation was going to stop. “He’s doing something for me.”

  “You don’t lie well, Aunt,” Connor said with a rude sound. “I hate to do this, but you leave me no choice. We’re going to get what we came for. I won’t be double-crossed. Least of all by the man who’s used my sister so abysmally. Sanders, search the village for my aunt’s butler. I want the flower found.”

  “You’re crazy, Connor!” Michaela said.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Arthur added. “You’re acting like a madman.”

  He widened his stance, more bruiser than corporate executive. “Frankly, I’m surprised at you, Aunt Clara and Uncle Arthur. I would have expected Michaela to protect Boyd, but not you two.”

  That did it! Clara stepped in front of him. “We’re not protecting Boyd. Let me remind you that you asked us to come along in the first place. As for trying to steal anything from you, frankly, you’re the one acting like you want to steal the flower from these people, Connor.”

  Arthur moved behind her, his hand on her shoulder. “Clara…”

  She patted his arm. “I love you, Arthur, but I won’t tolerate any more of this slander. You’re wrong across the board here, Connor, and if Grandpa Emmits were here, he’d tan your hide for insulting these good people and besmirching the Merriam name.”

  “Is that so?” Connor drawled. “So if your butler doesn’t have it, who does, Aunt?”

  Arthur muttered under his breath.

  She patted his hand again. Bless the man, but she was going to say her piece. “Boyd and Michaela aren’t the couple the tribe has chosen to share the flower with the world.”

  She spotted her dear friend Naserian then and realized she was smiling too. Had the woman foreseen what she was about to do?

  He held out his hands. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense. Who did they choose?”

  She straightened her spine to her full height. “Arthur and me.”

  “They’re colluding with Boyd like you thought, Connor,” Iggie shouted. “This is ridiculous.”

  “I agree,” Connor said, his mouth twisting, “but good try, Aunt Clara.”

  His insouciance wouldn’t be borne. “Let me be crystal clear, Connor. We aren’t stealing anything from you that isn’t yours in the first place. And after this insanity, you’re never going to get near the flower. Not as long as I—we, sorry, dear—draw breath. Right now, I can tell you that’s going to be a long time.”

  Connor stared her down, his nose flaring. “We’ll see about that.”

  Chapter 23

  Michaela couldn’t believe what she was hearing from her brother.

  Their cousin’s death had thrown him for a loop, sure, but this was beyond anything she could have imagined. She’d always looked up to Connor, even when he’d chastised her for the way things had ended with Boyd. Even when he’d insisted she come on this trip. This wasn’t the brother she’d admired.

  “Are you threatening my wife?” Uncle Arthur asked her brother.

  He put his hands on his hips. “No, but I don’t like someone standing in my way. Or lying—”

  “She’s not lying, Connor,” Michaela said as her uncle and Boyd both took a menacing step forward.

  Connor stood his ground. “Michaela, I want this flower. Let me remind you who you work for: our family’s company. Now, who do I need to talk to here? The chief? Usually this kind of thing comes down to a figure.”

  “They’ll be grateful for pennies, given the conditions around here,” Iggie said, his narrow nose raised with a clear air of superiority. “All we need is someone to take us to the Valley of Stars. Who wants to make some money?”

  Michaela put a hand on Boyd to remain standing when her legs started to tremble. “Iggie, enough. Connor, this isn’t how we do business.”

  “Stay out of this, Michaela. You’re obviously unwell and delusional. We’ll deal with that later.”

  “She’s shaking from fatigue, you asshole,” Boyd said. “Listen to her, Connor. You and Iggie need to go. Right now.”

  “We won’t until we make a deal for the flower and the land it’s grown on,” Connor said.

  “If you’d listen, boy,” Aunt Clara said, lifting her chin. “Arthur and I now co-own this land with these fine people, and we aren’t selling.”

  Connor’s eyes narrowed. “More of this ridiculous talk? You’re both eighty. All right, say I believe this story. Aunt Clara, you should entrust this find to the family company. How are you going to manufacture the flower and distribute it otherwise?”

  Michaela shared a look with Boyd. She’d wondered the same thing, although she trusted her aunt and uncle’s discretion more than Connor apparently did. She’d hoped they might choose to honor the agreement Boyd had made with Merriam Enterprises.

  Aunt Clara’s face tightened with strain, and she and Uncle Arthur exchanged a look. When he nodded, she said, “We’ve been discussing our options with the elders over the last few days, after we heard about a Merriam representative terrorizing the other villages. Given the approach you’ve taken, we’ll have to select another partner. Someone who has passed the incorruptibility test time and time again.”

  “But you’re a Merriam,” Connor said, his mouth twisting.

  Aunt Clara paused dramatically, smiled, and then said, “Boyd and his new company will be our new partner.”

  When Michaela turned to Boyd, his mouth had gaped open. He was as shocked as she was. Then the significance of the news hit her. Merriam Enterprises wouldn’t be involved—which meant she wouldn’t be involved either. The dream of her and Boyd ushering this flower into the world together? It wasn’t going to happen.

  “This is what he wanted all along,” Iggie shouted.

  “We’ll make it all legal and discuss the details later,” Arthur said. “After these people leave.”

  Boyd put an arm on Uncle Arthur’s shoulder. “That’s—”

  “I’ll take you to court,” Connor said, his jaw ticking. “I had a deal—”

  “Based on what you just said, your deal means nothing. And you certainly didn’t make it with us or
this tribe,” Aunt Clara said, her tone matching Connor’s. “I hate to do this, Connor, but I meant what I said. You’re not acting in the best interests of Merriam Enterprises right now.”

  “My father was right to cut you out of the family all those years ago.” Connor ran his hand through his hair. “After this, you’ll never see any of us ever again.”

  Michaela gasped. “Con—”

  “You shut your mouth, son,” Arthur said, planting his feet now.

  “You’d threaten Clara like that?” Boyd asked. “She’s your aunt, for heaven’s sake, and a total sweetheart despite what you think.”

  “Thank you, Boyd.” Aunt Clara’s lip trembled a moment before she lifted her head. “I certainly hope you’re wrong, Connor. I’m prepared to speak with our family about my actions. Defend them if I must. Can you say the same?”

  “I don’t have to,” Connor said, laughing harshly. “I’m president of Merriam Enterprises. Michaela, let’s go. We’re done here.”

  He gestured to the helicopter like he expected her to follow him like a lapdog, and she stood there, not knowing what to do. Technically speaking, he was her boss. Plus, he was the brother she’d always looked up to and idolized. But he wasn’t acting like himself, and the villagers were getting more restless by the minute.

  Boyd seemed to sense her confusion because he put his hands on her forearms and looked at her with grim understanding. “Mickey, you should go. If he’s threatening to cut Clara out… I know how much your family means to you.”

  Her gaze fell to the ring on her finger. Since she’d come out of the fever, she’d turned it on her finger in delight, imagining a bright and bold future, starting with a wedding at her parents’ house like she’d always dreamed, surrounded by family. But what if her other siblings sided with Connor? What if her mother and father did too?

  They’d always treated her as their loveable eccentric. Would that change? Was Boyd right? Would she be the next Merriam to be exiled from the family?

  “But what about the flower?” she asked. “We were supposed to work on it together. Then there’s us.”