Page 2 of For Blood

Finally, Derik broke the silence, his voice low but firm."Are you sure about this, Morgan?It could be a trap."

The words hung in the air between them, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at Morgan since she'd received the letter.She didn't answer immediately, her grip on the wheel tightening further as she wrestled with her thoughts.

Was she sure?No, not entirely.But the alternative - ignoring this chance, potentially missing an opportunity to see her father again after all these years - was unthinkable.The memory of that hunting trip, of her broken ankle, was so vivid, so personal.It had to be him.It had to be.

Morgan glanced at Derik, noting the concern in his green eyes.She sighed, feeling the weight of her decision."It's him, Derik," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper."It has to be."

She saw Derik's jaw clench, knew he wanted to argue further.But he remained silent, respecting her choice even if he didn't agree with it.Morgan felt a surge of gratitude for his support, mixed with a twinge of guilt for the worry she was causing him.

And now, this unexpected twist - her father, alive after all this time.

Part of her wanted to be angry, to demand answers for his absence.But another part, a part she'd thought long buried, just yearned to see him again.To understand why he'd let her believe he was dead all these years.

The car bumped slightly as they turned onto a narrower road, the woods growing denser around them.Morgan's heart rate picked up, memories of childhood hunting trips flooding back.They were getting close now.Close to answers, or perhaps to more questions.

As they drove deeper into the forest, Morgan couldn't help but wonder what awaited her at the end of this journey.Would it be the reunion she longed for, or another cruel twist in the ongoing saga of her life?Whatever lay ahead, she knew one thing for certain - she had to see it through, no matter the cost.

Morgan's fingers trembled slightly as she reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out the worn, folded piece of paper.The letter.She unfolded it carefully, her eyes tracing the familiar handwriting that had haunted her dreams for weeks.

"Derik," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "look at this again.Tell me I'm not crazy."

Derik leaned over, his green eyes scanning the page.Morgan watched his face, searching for any sign of doubt.

"That hunting trip," she continued, her voice growing stronger."I remember where I tripped over a root and broke my ankle.The sound of the stream nearby, the smell of pine needles..."Her voice caught in her throat."Only my father would know this happened.”

Derik nodded slowly, his brow furrowed."It's...incredibly specific," he admitted.

Morgan's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her knuckles white against the array of tattoos that covered her arms."And now, after all this time...after letting me believe he was dead since before I even got out of prison..."She swallowed hard, fighting back the lump in her throat."He's alive, Derik.He has to be."

The car fell silent for a moment, only the crunch of gravel under the tires breaking the tension.Morgan's mind raced, a storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

"But why now?"she finally burst out, unable to contain the tumult of questions any longer."Why reach out after all this time?What could he possibly want?"

She glanced at Derik, seeing the concern etched on his face.She knew he was worried about her, about the potential danger of this situation.But she couldn't turn back now.The possibility of seeing her father again, of finally getting answers to the questions that had plagued her for years, was too powerful to ignore.

Morgan's eyes flicked from the road to Derik, then back again.The endless Texas countryside stretched before them, bathed in the soft light of early morning.She could feel the weight of Derik's gaze, heavy with concern.

"I don't even know what I'm feeling, Derik," she admitted, her voice tight with frustration and confusion.The tattoos on her arms seemed to ripple as she flexed her grip on the steering wheel."It's like...I should be happy, right?He's alive.That's a good thing.But at the same time..."She trailed off, jaw clenching.

The silence hung between them for a moment before she continued, her words tumbling out in a rush."He let me believe he was dead.He lied to me for my whole life.What kind of father does that?"

Morgan's mind raced, memories of her time in prison flooding back.Ten years of her life, gone.Ten years of believing her father was dead, of mourning him.And all that time, he'd been alive.The betrayal stung, sharp and raw.

Derik didn't respond right away.From the corner of her eye, Morgan could see him studying her, his green eyes intense.She knew that look – he was weighing his words carefully, as he always did in tense situations.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and measured."A father with secrets.Big ones."He paused, running a hand through his slicked-back hair."That's what scares me, Morgan.We don't know what he's into or why he's been hiding.And this letter?It could be a setup."

Morgan shook her head, her resolve hardening."I know it's risky," she said, her voice barely above a whisper."But I have to know the truth.If there's even the smallest chance it's really him..."Her voice trailed off, but her determination was clear in the set of her jaw, the steel in her eyes.

She thought of Richard Cordell, of the corruption that ran deep in the FBI.Of Thomas Grady, her apparent half-brother, gunned down on that pier.Of all the lies and betrayals that had shaped her life.But this – this was different.This was her father.

"I've come too far to back down now," Morgan said, more to herself than to Derik.The road ahead seemed to stretch endlessly, leading her towards answers she both craved and feared.

The car lurched as Morgan steered it off the main road, the sudden transition to the rough dirt path jarring her from her thoughts.The dense woods closed in around them, branches scraping against the sides of the vehicle like grasping fingers.Dappled sunlight filtered through the canopy, creating a shifting mosaic on the forest floor.

Morgan's knuckles whitened as she gripped the steering wheel tighter, her heart rate picking up.This place was achingly familiar, yet alien after so many years.She could almost hear the echoes of her bygone’s laughter, see the ghostly image of her father walking beside her on the trail.

As they entered a small clearing, Morgan cut the engine.The abrupt silence was deafening, broken only by the ticking of the cooling engine and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.She turned to Derik, her hand already on the door handle.

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