One Step Closer(18)

The only thing he knew for sure were that he didn’t want to make the choice. And if Wren was a factor, no doubt, she would be his first consideration; old habits were hard to break. No doubt, it would complicate things with his current girlfriend, Macy as well.

Obviously, he wasn’t as good at hiding his feelings as he’d prided himself, but was he so transparent? Obviously, or Jonathan wouldn’t have summoned Wren home to Denver on his father’s command. He could only pray that Veronica wasn’t hauling her skinny ass within a hundred miles.

The two envelopes now lay heavily in Caleb’s hand, and after taking them he sat back down, this time on one of the large, matching chairs.

Since Jonathan had already read Edison’s letter, Caleb hoped he could skim through it. To read it would make his father’s death real, and the rest of this impossible situation more tangible. He was used to being gone from the house… but the last time, he thought he was gone for good.

“There’s a method to his madness, I’m sure. He never does—” Caleb stopped and swallowed, correcting himself, “—he never did anything without a very calculated reason.” Though Caleb wondered if it was truly noble motivation or just another thing to make his son miserable.

This shit was going to rip open so many f*cking wounds.

Edison was dead, but the son-of-a-bitch was still laughing his ass off.

If only this were just about me, the answer would be easy, Caleb thought. But, it’s about Wren. It’s always been about Wren.





CALEB WAS ANXIOUS at the prospect of seeing Wren. Would she want the security that Lux Pharm could give her, or would she just rather live her life?


He struggled with his choice. Should he tie his life to Wren’s for the next five years? Her life was full now. She had a successful career, maybe a relationship for all he knew, and probably no amount of money in the world would be worth screwing it up. He sighed deeply, the sound filling the silence around him. His life was also rolling in a steady direction and whether he split the estate with Wren or kept it all himself, it would send him in a different direction; if not forever, certainly for the time being. His father had effectively plugged any loopholes that would allow him to avoid this decision, so really it didn’t matter what he wanted.

But, what did he, want? Realistically, he and Wren had lived on opposite ends of the country, which would complicate everything if he chose to share it with her. Though money was the last thing he wanted from his father, it would help him start his automotive design firm. But… it would mean putting everything on hold for five years, first. His thoughts raced, and Caleb ran an agitated hand down his face. He could walk away and lose everything, but then, Wren would, too. Fuck.

The decision weighed heavily, like his need to love Wren had always wrestled with his conscience. Apart from twice in the past, he’d always put her first. The regret he had over hurting her on both of those occasions haunted him and fought with his selfish heart. Twice, he’d made a decision about Wren, to benefit himself, and neither had turned out well. Could he make this decision without talking to her about it? Would including her only put something on her plate she didn’t deserve to shoulder, and would she be selfish enough to be honest about what she wanted? Caleb had his doubts.

New anger and hatred surged for Edison Luxon. Damn him to hell!

Caleb’s chest felt tight as he carried his one bag down to his old bedroom in the basement of the huge house; the three envelopes Jonathan had given him felt like fire in his left hand. Shit, by most people’s standards, the place could be considered a mansion, but without his mom and now, without Wren, it was just an elaborate prison; a silent reminder of things he’d rather forget. Well, most of it, anyway.

He did have some good memories within these walls, on the grounds, and in the garage or pool house, but every one of them was tied to one of the two women. Though he cherished so much, he associated more with pain or guilt, rather than pleasure.

After his talk with Jonathan, it was clear to Caleb he’d have to confront all of them in the next few days or he was at risk of screwing everything up.

The basement was full of remembrances of Wren. Good or bad, happy or sad, it was full of her. It had everything they’d needed, save a kitchen, and they’d spent a lot of time there because it turned into a sort of escape.

After his mother died, he’d taken up residence in one of the spare rooms off the entertainment room down here because he’d wanted to put as much physical distance between himself and his father as possible. There was a second set of stairs leading down from the kitchen; which made coming and going undetected easier, even with the cameras and security system. With the garage entrance a few feet away from the top of the stairs, he was able to keep to himself without much notice from his dad or his stepmother. After the hag showed up on the scene, his father had been even more distracted and it was harder for Caleb to garner any attention, even when he was trying to piss him off.

God, he hated that woman. He’d wanted to kill that cold, jealous bitch on more than one occasion. She was selfish, for sure, and at times, Caleb doubted she even had a conscience at all.

At the bottom of the stairs, he turned the dimmer switch on full and the massive room was flooded with light. His room was at the far end, separated from the massive and elaborate theater room setup, by a full glass-enclosed gym on one side, and the Italian marble bathroom on the other. First-class all the way, for all it mattered to Caleb. His father’s money and all of this extravagant shit designed to keep his young son placated while he blew him off, had done nothing but made Caleb more resentful. He’d needed a father, not all this material crap. His friends liked it though and his fists had earned him all the status he needed within that group, he didn’t hate the admiration the money garnered. It was the only good thing to come out of having Edison Luxon for his father.