by Ciana Stone
"I don't know, man. Some of these people got families, you know? Stomping through bars is one thing but fucking with the Feds is a whole 'nother ball game, my man."
Cord looked into Big Jeff's honest face and nodded. He knew that he couldn't ask for what couldn't be given.
Cotton Creek, Texas
The young FBI agent quickly climbed back into the rear of the van. He’d waited until Mrs. Alexander reached the entrance. Now that he knew where she was, he quickly put on the headset, turned on the console and attempted to adjust the frequency of the ‘big ear’ so he could hear what was going on inside the restaurant.
A cacophony of commotion met his ears as he tried in vain to sort out all the conflicting sounds. Having no luck, he picked up the cellular and called in for instructions.
"Maybe, they'll want me to go in.” He said to himself hopefully as he waited for the connection.
His hopes were not fulfilled as he reported in. He was given instructions to stay where he was and follow her when she left. Disappointed, he hung up and climbed back into the front of the van. He made himself comfortable and watched the door.
Alone at her table, Morgan pushed back her plate. She’d barely touched it. Visions of Cord and his lover turned her stomach and robbed her of an appetite. She knew she was just punishing herself more by replaying it in her mind, but she didn't seem to be able to stop herself.
Maybe it wasn't real. Maybe she just fixed it, however it's done, to make it look like it was Cord.
The thought started to sound good until another part of her mind spoke up. Yeah, right, Morgan. And how did she manage to get Cord on camera making love?
"Damn!" She spoke aloud without realizing it. The small hope that perhaps it was all a cruel joke just didn't pan out. She knew it really was Cord. She just didn't want to believe it.
All the hurt she felt at Cord's betrayal and the confusion at why he hadn’t been honest with her began to pound harder in her head. Frantic to rid herself of the thoughts that were surely going to drive her mad she motioned for the waiter to bring her another tea.
As she waited for her drink, she absently twirled the ice in her empty glass. The moment the waiter set her fresh drink down, she picked it up and took a deep drink.
Maybe I should be having a real drink, she thought. Get so drunk I can't think. She wasn’t much of a drinker though, and chances were if she tried drinking, she’d just get sick.
She propped her elbows on the table and lowered her head into her hands, wondering just how long it would take for the loneliness and hurt to drive her completely out of her mind.
God, what a total fool I am! How could I not even have suspected that Cord was having an affair? Am I that blind?
Years. She remembered the woman’s taunting words that she and Cord had been lovers for years.
At first, Morgan had discounted it as the ramblings of some lunatic. Now that she’d seen the tape and knew it to be genuine, she was beginning to believe it.
He really must not love me anymore. Even if he did make the mistake of sleeping with someone else, he wouldn't have continued to have an affair all this time if he still loved me.
The thought that she had lost Cord's love long ago and not even realized it made her feel humiliated and stupid. "For an intelligent woman, you sure are dumb!” She said under her breath.
Although Cord had cheated on her and even left her for another woman, deep down she felt that it must be her fault. She must have done something. Maybe she hadn't been attentive enough, or sexy enough. It had to have been something. He must have had a reason to stop loving her.
Morgan knew that Cord wasn’t the type of man to have a casual affair. He was the kind of person who only made love to someone he really cared about. And he was most assuredly making love on that video.
Resentment bubbled like acid inside her. The resentment quickly began to build. It was a lot easier to be mad than hurt. She allowed the anger to build and set her mind to holding onto the rage. She would push the hurt out of her mind. From now on, she wouldn’t let anything but anger in. That way she wouldn't have to deal with it and wouldn't have to feel like she was dying.
She was busy trying to convince herself that she’d just forget about Cord. If he didn't care anymore about her than to just run off without even saying goodbye, without having the guts to face her then she didn’t want him anyway. Caught up in those thoughts, she was startled by the sound of a deep masculine voice saying her name.
"Mrs. Alexander?”.
She raised her head from her hands, turned and looked in the direction of the voice. Standing beside her table was one of the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life, and one she never expected to meet face-to-face.
“Morgan Alexander?” he asked again
Morgan’s mind was in a spin. She couldn’t be seeing who she thought stood before her. Her eyes had to be playing tricks on her.
“You are Morgan Alexander, aren’t you?”
"Yes."
"Excuse me for intruding on your privacy. Would it be possible to have a moment of your time? I'd like to talk to you about your husband."
All the anger and hurt disappeared in a flash, along with her resolve to forget about Cord. Instantly she was full of fear. "Cord? Has something happened to him? Is he all right? Hold on, how do you know−What’s going on?”
"Ah, well−” He slid into the chair across from her. "Actually, what I wanted to talk to you about is Cassandra."
“Cassandra? I don’t know any Cassandra.”
“But your husband does. Quite intimately.”
Morgan sat up as if someone had rammed a needle in her back. "Look, I don't know what you think you know but I don't intend to discuss my husband with you or anyone else!"
"I'm sorry to upset you, Mrs. Alexander.” He reached out and gently touched her clenched fist on the table. "If you will just give me a moment to explain."
Morgan snatched her hand away as if he had burned her. "I told you I didn't want to talk to you. Get the hell away from me before I call the manager!"
"Mrs. Alexander, please. I ask for only five minutes. I want to apologize to you for what Cassandra did. It’s important that you know I tried to stop her!"
"What are you talking about?” Morgan’s voice increased in volume. "Tried to stop her from what?"
"I tried to stop her from going.”
Morgan didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. “Look, Mr.?” She looked pointedly him, unwilling to let him know she was aware of his identity.
"Vinsetti, Victor Vinsetti.”
Victor Vinsetti, industrialist, billionaire and the man Maria Sanchez swore had vowed to take revenge on Cord for not accepting his offer of a partnership. Morgan had thought about that claim more than once over the years, whenever anything would go wrong with Cord’s business.
She’d tried to talk to Maria about it several times, but each time Maria said the same thing. That she was drunk when she made the claim, angry because Juan had not gotten what he deserved when he was president of the American branch of Vincon.
Morgan didn’t believe Maria, particularly not after the warning Richard and Russell Walker had given Cord about staying far away from Victor Vinsetti. So, what the hell was he doing showing up and how the hell did he know where to find her?
"Look, Mr. Vinsetti.” She lowered her voice. "I don't know what you're going on about but my and my husband's private life is not open for discussion. Especially with perfect strangers. So, if you’ll excuse me.”
Before he had a chance to say another word, she grabbed her tea, rose, went to the bar to pay her bill and escaped to the outside patio. Victor smiled and sat back, savoring the performance he’d delivered. He knew he had performed well, charming but flustered. And just enough hints to make her curious
Give her just a little time. It will start to eat at her and then she'll be eager to listen to what I have to say. A thought crossed his mind and prompted a chuckle; the story Cassi
e had told him about leaving Morgan bloody and unconscious came back.
She certainly didn’t look like a woman who was recently beaten half to death. As he started to rise, a thin, black man dressed like most of the customers of the establishment approached the table.
“The arrangements have been made, sir.”
“Excellent,” Victor rose from his chair and carelessly tossed a couple of bills down on the table. “Make sure that the directives are fulfilled.” Without further conversation, Victor made his way outside.
Morgan found a small two-seater table in a dark corner of the patio. The place was sparsely populated. A young blond waitress approached the table.
"What can I get you?"
"Can you refresh my tea?"
"Sure thing.”
“May I join you?” A male voice had her looking up.
She glared at Victor. "Damn! What is it with you? Can't you just leave me alone?"
As if deaf to her hostile tone Victor pulled out the remaining chair at her table and slid it around beside her. “If you’ll just allow me five minutes, Mrs. Alexander, I’ll explain and then will leave you. Please."
The waitress stopped at the table. "Hi! My name's Kristie. I'll be your server tonight.” She gave Victor a flirtatious smile and thrust out her chest. "What can I get for you?"
“Whatever the lady is having will be fine.” Victor seemed not to notice her overtures.
"Okay, I'm listening.” Morgan said as the waitress departed. “Whatever it is you have to say, let's hear it."
Victor looked down at the table. “I don't know how to begin. I’m quite ashamed."
He cut a quick look at Morgan. She arched one eyebrow and crossed her arms.
"I wanted to apologize to you, Mrs. Alexander,” he said quickly. “For Cassie, that is. You see, I know about Cassie and your husband. I’ve known for a long time. I suppose I should have done something about it before now, but I didn’t think it was my place."
He paused as the waitress returned with his drink then took a drink and grimaced slightly. For a moment neither of them spoke.
"Look, Mr. Vinsetti.” Morgan was wound up so tight she was about to snap. "I don't know what your part in this is but why don't you just spit it out then we can say good–bye and be done with it."
A hurt expression crossed Victor's face and it made her feel unkind and rude. She was beginning to feel a little sorry for him. He really did seem to be upset, and he looked so dejected.
"I'm sorry," she said in a kinder tone. "I don't mean to be rude; it's just that I wish you'd get to the point."
"Please." His ingratiating tone was accompanied by a timid smile. "Call me Victor."
"Okay, Victor," she agreed hesitantly. "Now, will you please go on?"
“Well you see, Mrs. Alexander, at one time I was involved with Cassie. We even discussed marriage. However, she ended our relationship quite suddenly after she returned from Rome several years ago. Apparently while she was there, she met and fell in love with a married man."
Victor looked down at the table as if it pained him to talk about what had happened. A few second passed before he looked at Morgan. "Since that time, she has continued to keep in touch with me. Not because she has feelings for me, you understand. Just as companionship when her lover can't get away to be with her.
"After her affair had gone on for a couple of years, her lover told her that he wanted to leave his wife and marry her. She was quite excited, but she didn't want to wait long. You see, Cassie is not a patient person. "
“The affair continued, and she became increasingly impatient. Her lover kept putting off telling his wife that he wanted a divorce and Cassie began talking about telling the woman herself.
"Yesterday she showed up at my house.” He watched Morgan's face grow harder and her eyes narrowed.
“She said she’d come to say goodbye. She was leaving for good. She and her lover were meeting somewhere here in Texas and they weren’t coming back. I tried to reason with her, but she wouldn't listen. She had some urgent errand to run before catching her flight to Odessa.
"So, you see," He looked away from Morgan's gaze. "I feel somewhat responsible."
Tears welled up in Morgan’s eyes. Her voice cracked with emotion as she excused herself and fled to the ladies' room.
Victor smiled exuberantly. She had fallen for it, hard. He’d seen it clear in her eyes. Time to make his next move.
He cut a quick look around to make sure he wasn’t being observed then emptied a small vial of clear liquid into Morgan's drink and stirred it around.
While he had no doubt in his ability to seduce her, he wanted to make sure she didn't slip out of his grasp. The drug was little more than insurance. Oh, no, Morgan, he watched the door for her return. I don't intend to lose you now. My revenge will be complete.
Morgan dried her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair. She hardly saw herself in the mirror’s reflection. Instead, she saw Cord and the look on his face as he gazed down at his lover, Cassie, lying beneath him.
Please, please let this be a bad dream. Let me wake up and it will all go away. She looked into the reflection of the mirror with a determined expression. Immediately she pulled out her cell phone and placed a call to the hotel in Odessa where Cord was staying.
She asked to be connected to Cord's room, pacing back and forth and trying to decide exactly what she was going to say. She had to get some answers from him, or she was going to explode. Down deep inside she still held the faint hope that he would say it was not true.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Alexander is not available. Can I take a message?”
“Do you know where he might be?”
“I can check Ms. Billingsley’s room if you’d like.”
The reply affected her like lightning had run through the line. She jerked the phone away from her face and without another word ended the call.
It was true. Once more, she’d received proof. Defeated and heartbroken she fled to the parking lot and jumped in her car, giving no thought to the man waiting for her on the patio.
Odessa, Texas
Big Jeff called a meeting of the bikers to explain the situation, at least as much as he knew which wasn't all that much. Each of them had to decide for themselves whether they wanted to stay. Jeff knew that every man and woman in the crowd would gladly stay if he asked them, but he didn't want to put anybody at risk on his account. He was doing his part for Cord because Cord was his oldest friend. The rest would have to decide for themselves without any encouragement from him
Meanwhile, Cord and Trevor headed to the facility to gather the equipment he would need. The ride was quiet. Cord was lost in thought, going over the plan he’d devised. Everything had to be timed just right for it to work. Step by step, he went through it, checking to make sure he had all the bases covered.
They had almost reached the facility when Cord realized that Trevor was being very quiet, which was unusual for him. "What's on your mind?" Cord looked over at Trevor.
"Huh? Oh, nothing much.” He looked away.
Cord knew the signs all too well. "What's bothering you, Trevor? Is it what's going on down here? Look, you don't have to stay if you don't want to. I wouldn't want you to do anything that you don't feel right about."
"No.” Trevor turned to look Cord in the eyes. "It's nothing like that. Really. It's just, well, is Mom okay?"
"Yes, she’s fine. It's just that, well, you know how your Mother is. When I told her I wanted you to come down here, she got upset. She didn't want me to get you involved in something that might be dangerous. She worries about you."
"I can take care of myself."
"Nobody said you couldn't. It's just that all of this has been hard on Morgan and you know how it is when something's going on and you're not part of it. All you can do is sit and wait and it drives you nuts. And you know that your Mom isn’t the most patient person on the planet."
"You got that right. If she was here, she'd be like Big Je
ff."
"Taking names and kicking ass!" They both chimed in unison.
Cotton Creek, Texas
Tears marred her vision as she drove. Morgan had never felt so alone, not even when her father died. At least then she had her grandmother to turn to for love and comfort.
Like the answer to a prayer, that thought brought an image to mind, one of Joe’s face. Without thinking, she made an illegal turn and headed for his house. Not only did she need the company of someone who cared, but she also wanted to check on Ghost. With all that had been going on, she had not been able to see him.
And as silly as she felt even thinking it, she wanted to ask him about the night the tornado destroyed the Honky Tonk.
She parked on the dirt path, got out of the car and started on foot toward the house. With each step, she expected Joe to appear before her on the path. When she had covered half the distance to the house and Joe hadn’t shown up, she began to worry. She couldn’t remember a single time he hadn’t met her. Something's wrong!
She broke into a run and covered the remaining distance quickly. Once she reached the house, she dashed across the yard and bounded up the steps and across the porch. As always, the door to the house was unlocked.
“Joe?” She called out as she pushed open the door. "Myrtle? Where are you?”
The silence of the empty house met her. She could find no signs of Joe, Myrtle or her dog. Where can they be?
She ran outside into the back yard, expecting to find them sitting beneath the big oak that sheltered the rear of the house. No one was there.
Desperate to find them, she walked into the surrounding woods, searching and calling repeatedly. No reply came to her frantic yells. After an hour, she gave up and returned to the house. She sat down on the front step and looked out over the lawn. She couldn’t imagine what could have happened. Joe would certainly know that she would come to check on her dog. Even if he were pulling another of his disappearing acts, surely he wouldn’t take Ghost with him. And what about Myrtle?
