Page 8 of For Mercy

"I know," John said softly."And I'll regret that decision for the rest of my life.But Morgan, you have to understand – Cordell is relentless.He doesn't just destroy his enemies; he obliterates them.I couldn't risk him coming after you again."

Morgan closed her eyes, trying to process the enormity of the situation.Her entire life had been shaped by this vendetta, this decades-long game of cat and mouse.And now, she was caught in the middle of it all.

The flickering lamplight cast long shadows across John's weathered face as he leaned forward, his voice low and urgent."I saw you on the news, Morgan.Your arrest, the accusations.I knew it had to be Cordell.He's still out there, still pulling strings."

Morgan's jaw clenched, her arms tightening across her chest.The cabin suddenly felt too small, too confining.She paced, the floorboards creaking beneath her feet.

"He's not just after me," she said, her dark eyes meeting her father's."He's trying to erase everything you were, everything you stood for.It's like he wants to wipe out any trace of John Christopher from the world."

John nodded grimly."Cordell's always been obsessed with legacy.In his mind, I betrayed him, and now he wants to make sure there's nothing left of me.Not even in you."

Morgan stopped pacing, her mind racing.She'd been right about so much, but the confirmation brought no satisfaction.Only a cold, creeping dread.

"What am I supposed to do?"she asked, hating how lost she sounded."Cordell's got allies everywhere.He's got his hooks so deep in the Bureau, I don't know who I can trust anymore."She ran a hand through her dark hair, frustration etched in every line of her body."I'm running out of options, Dad.And I'm running out of time."

John's weathered face darkened, his eyes taking on a haunted look that sent a chill down Morgan's spine.He stepped back, running a calloused hand through his graying hair.

"There might be another way," he said, his voice low and gravelly."A way to end this once and for all."

Morgan tensed, her FBI instincts screaming a warning."What are you thinking?"

John met her gaze, his expression grim."I turn myself in.Surrender to Cordell."

The words hit Morgan like a physical blow.Her blood ran cold, her heart hammering against her ribs."Absolutely not," she snapped, her voice sharp with fear and anger.

"Think about it," John pressed."If I give myself up, maybe it'll be enough.Maybe he'll finally let this vendetta go."

Morgan shook her head vehemently, her dark hair whipping around her face."You don't understand how Cordell operates," she said, her voice tight with urgency."He doesn't just kill his enemies.He erases them."

She paced the small cabin, her tattooed arms crossed tightly over her chest.Her mind raced, imagining all the ways Cordell could twist this to his advantage."If you surrender, he won't just kill you," she continued, turning back to face her father."He'll take someone away from you first.And that someone will be me."

John's face paled, the implications sinking in.Morgan pressed on, her voice softening slightly."We can't give him that opportunity.You need to stay hidden, Dad.Let me handle this."

"But how?"John asked, his shoulders slumping with the weight of their predicament.

Morgan's jaw set with determination."I'll find a way to bring Cordell down.For good this time.But I need you safe while I do it."

The oil lamp flickered, casting dancing shadows across the weathered walls of the cabin.Morgan sank onto the edge of the rickety bed, her body heavy with exhaustion and the weight of everything she'd learned.Outside, the forest hummed with nocturnal life, a contrast to the oppressive silence within.

She ran a hand through her dark hair, her mind whirling.The lies, the betrayals, the decades of secrets – it was almost too much to process.But beneath the shock and confusion, a fierce determination burned.This wasn't just about clearing her name anymore.This was war.

"I need to form a plan," Morgan muttered, more to herself than to her father.She glanced up at him, noting the worry lines etched deep into his face."Cordell has allies everywhere.Taking him down won't be easy."

John nodded gravely."He's had years to build his network.But you're not alone in this fight, Morgan.Remember that."

A ghost of a smile touched her lips."I know.I've got good people in my corner."Her thoughts drifted to Derik, and something in her expression must have changed, because her father's eyebrow raised slightly.

“I know this is a lot,” he went on, “but maybe you can tell your old man how you’re doing outside of all this?You have a life… a man?”

Morgan blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift."Yeah… Derik.We're...together now," she admitted, feeling an odd mix of vulnerability and warmth."It's still new, but it's good.Really good."

A genuine smile spread across John's weathered face."I'm glad to hear that," he said."That boy's loved you for a long time, you know.Even back when you two were just partners, I could see it in his eyes."

Morgan felt a flush creep up her neck."Dad," she protested weakly, but there was no real objection behind it.Instead, she found herself relaxing slightly, allowing herself this moment of normalcy amidst the chaos."He's been there for me through...everything," she continued, her voice growing quiet."The framing, the prison time, all of it.Even when I pushed him away, he never gave up on me."

John reached out, gently squeezing her shoulder."That's what love does, sweetheart.It gives you strength when you need it most."

Morgan nodded, swallowing past the lump in her throat.For a brief moment, she allowed herself to simply be a daughter sitting with her father, sharing a piece of her life.But the weight of their situation pressed in again, and she straightened, her expression hardening with resolve.

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