Chapter 45

Caleb

I explained the entire situation to them. What I had been up to and what I was doing.

“ Catherine is relentless, even if I am alcoholic she still doesn't care she still wants to be with me. She's going to make a move soon and I'm waiting for it. I don't know how Holly, my mother and sister are going to take it when I say I'm going to be with Catherine . But it has to be after her one year death anniversary “.

They both just sat there looking at me without saying anything.

“ Look everyone knows,the entire world knows my wife died and how she died. I don't think there is a person That isn't alive that knows. If Catherine Davidson becomes my second wife that will be her faith also and she will choose her own faith. The police and the detective already know what happened to Aria. If it happens to Catherine too then it's not my fault “.

“ And his mother?” Ryan said, nodding towards Jason.

“ She's last. From the information that I received I heard your father is planning to flee , he's going to serve her with divorce papers. She threatened him. I got that on video too ”, I said looking at him.

“ Yeah ,he came to me. I cut myself off from her and she hasn't stopped trying to speak to me. I'm her next target”.

“ About that. This Taufik Ahmad, Max made some calls Nathan was away doing some digging and he found out something. It was only a few days ago he returned to the states and told me. Cassandra Ran because of your mother. She sent Taufik after her ,he beat her up, almost killed her, he warned her if she ever Saw your father she should run ,he didn't know she was pregnant, he told her he'd really kill her if she ever showed her face again “.

“ Fuck”.

“ He didn't tell your mother that he let her go ,he let her disappear. He told Diane that Cassandra escaped”.

“ Jesus Christ. What the fuck is wrong with these people . Who exactly is this guy?”Ryan asked.

“ The government has a special army that does things the public shouldn't know about. Things that would make your skin crawl. Those men have no sympathy. Taufik went rogue, killing an entire village including children just for fun. He is currently wanted. Your mother met him online and since then she's retained him. He's hard to find. The only person that can get him to come out of hiding is Diane. And I've already prepared a way to get both of them“.

“ Okay “ , Jason said.

“ I suggest you tell them yourself because Holly came here to light into your ass for the drinking “ ,Ryan said sitting back.

“ When are the two of you getting married?”.

“ Christ Caleb. I'm not in a hurry and neither is Holly”,

The door opened and Holly walked in followed by Cindy. Cindy walked over to the table and grabbed the bottles and started walking out.

“ I'm going to Marry Catherine ” ,

Holly stopped in her tracks, Cindy dropped a bottle of whiskey and turned around and looked at me. Cindy tossed one of the bottles towards my head, thankfully I moved in time.

“ If you ever marry that fucking bitch I will no longer be your sister and I will drop the Cross family name “. She said, staring at me. Holly hadn't said anything, she just stared at me. Ryan started snickering and Jason just smirked at me.

“ Let me Explain ”.

“ NO I DON'T WHAT TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM YOU, YOU'RE A GODDAMN TRAITOR ”, She yelled dropping the remaining bottles onto the floor and storming out. I looked at them.

“ Holly, Ryan and Jason will explain it to you. I need to go deal with that hot headed sister of mine ”.

I left Them and headed down. I found her yelling. Mom just sat there listening to her. I couldn't tell my mother didn't like what she was hearing. The second I got within range,she threw a vase at me.

“ Cindy, let me explain. I haven't been drinking. I just take the bottles with me. Everyone Sees me with it and believes I'm a lost cause. In everyone's eyes I'm an alcoholic so they won't be worried about me ,but I've been watching everyone, especially Catherine and Diane. They're the reason she's dead and the only way to deal with them is to make sure they're under my thumb, especially Catherine ”.

“ Everyone knows what happened to Aria. Maybe it'll happen to Catherine too. I'm not going to legally marry her , that's what she will believe. I don't need you to be nice or kind to her. The minute she steps into this house I'm going to make her cut her family and friends off. You're going to make her life miserable until she can't anymore “.

“ You don't love her ?”, Cindy asked me

“ No Cindy,I just need to use her. I'm going to lock my wing of the house,we'll be staying in the main house. She's going to have her own room and I'll use my old room. It has to be after Aria's one year death anniversary,not before that. I'll give her a few weeks before I start ”. I Said taking a seat and looking at them.

“ Caleb, are you sure about this?”.

“ Yes Mom “.

“ If you haven't been drinking then Why do you always smell like alcohol?”. Cindy said, staring me down.

“ Because I rub it onto my clothes my dear sister. I've been pissy and rude to everyone because Diane has someone watching me. And the More miserable I am, the more it seems real”.

“ Okay “.

My sister was worse than our mother. My mother just sat quietly listening to me and this brat had to question me. I just shook my head. I saw the security guard running in.

“ Mr Cross Mrs Campbell is heading in here”, I stood up immediately.

“ Cindy, go tell the others tell them to get down here immediately. Don't mention anything about what we talked about “. I walked over to the bar and opened another bottle of whiskey. I ruffled up my hair and rubbed some all over me.

“ She's almost here sir “.

I sat down by the bar and grabbed a glass. I poured half down the drain and a glass full. The others came down at the same time and stood looking at me.

“ She's here boss”. He said,then walked out. I didn't look at any of them. I sat quietly facing the wall.

“ Caleb that's enough drinking ”, Ryan said

I didn't answer.

“ For Christ sake Caleb are you going to drink yourself to death ”, my mother yelled.
Oh, they were good.

“ My my my it seems like I caught you at a bad time “. I heard Diane say.

“ Why do you want Diane ?I don't have time for nonsense. I have to Deal with my son “.

“ You care about your son and I care about mine,but because of your son. My son refuses to speak to me”.

“ You have a son ?”. I heard Jason asked her.

“ Jason Campbell, I am still your mother. Do not speak to me in that manner ” ,

“ Or what?, let me guess you're going to do the same thing to me ?”.

I turned around and looked at them.

“ It's a party. Denise, DENISE “ ,I yelled for one of the maids.

“ Mr Cross?”.

“ Get everyone a drink, we're having a party” , I Said taking a drink. She stood looking at me then at my mother. I saw my mother shaking her head. Everytime Denise saw me with a bottle she had a sad broken look in her eyes.

“ Denise, go back to doing what you were doing “. My mother said, looking at her. Holly walked over to me and grabbed the glass and bottle from me.

“ That's enough Caleb. You're miserable and you're making everyone miserable. I know you miss her and you're hurt but this drinking is going to kill you “.

“ That's better ”.

“ Well it seems like your son is a lost cause, imagine a woman,the death of a woman made him useless just like my son has become useless to me. I guess the Cross family isn't so high and mighty after all”. Diane said walking out

I looked at them.

“ You should all be careful now, especially me ”,Jason said looking at us.

“ We're heading back to Payson. Caleb keep me updated on the situation. The resort is set to open on the date scheduled. It'll be the same time as Aria's death anniversary “.

“ Okay, I'll let you know what happens”.