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I didn’t know that. But I wasn’t going to admit it. “Of course.”
“I’ll be hosting a luncheon afterward, at the club. Just us boys. A gentleman’s memorial to pay our respects.”
My ears pricked up at the opening. “I’d love to attend.”
“Good. Good. We’ve much to discuss and fill you in on. I’ll see you at the ceremony then. I believe you and Bart’s son went to school together? I’m sure he’ll appreciate your presence.”
“Yes, we were friends. I wouldn’t miss it. I look forward to the luncheon afterward. Thank you for thinking of me, Harold.”
“You’re an up-and-coming star in this industry, Black. I only want to work with the best.”
A slow smile spread across my face at his praise. “Thank you, sir. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I ended the call, grinning like a maniac.
Hugh raised an eyebrow. “What was that about?”
“We’re going to Bart Weston’s funeral tomorrow.”
He stopped tossing popcorn into his mouth. “Are you insane? We can’t go there.”
I glared at him. “Why not?”
He started listing reasons out on his fingers. “Oh, you know, just that Vaughn and all the guys from the MC will be there. Pretty much everyone who is out for your blood and obviously mine too, since they tried to set my house on fire. That woman who died with Vaughn’s dad was Rebel’s mom. No fucking way, Caleb. We aren’t going anywhere near that place. That’s a death wish.”
He had a point. The Slayers had only given up on me because I’d delivered Hayden to them on a platter. But that wouldn’t tide them over for long. Plus, Vaughn and his friends were hell-bent on defending their bitch.
“Fuck,” I mumbled. “Fucking, fuck, fuck!”
I wasn’t missing out on another business opportunity. Getting an in with Harold Coker was exactly what I’d been working for ever since I’d first started Black Industries. I needed him and his friends on my side if I was going to take this business to the next level. There was no way around it. It was all about who you knew.
They were the gatekeepers, and I wanted in.
My gaze fell onto Kara.
The Slayers had bleeding hearts. I knew for a fact they wouldn’t touch a woman. Their Achilles’ heel was their females. Which made taking one with me a smart idea. What the hell could they do in the middle of a funeral anyway? Especially if I had a woman right there by my side. Especially one their girl cared about after their little basement encounter that night at my Halloween party.
Even if they wanted to kill me on sight, she wouldn’t let them if I had Kara with me.
I motioned for the woman to get up. “Let’s get you a party dress, slut. You’re going to a funeral.”
She raised her head from gazing at the baby. “I’m not going anywhere with you, Caleb.” Her voice was a wobble and full of exhaustion.
Like I gave a shit.
I glared at her. “I don’t know why you think I was asking.”
She mustered up strength from somewhere. “If you force me to go to that funeral, I will scream to anyone who’ll listen that I’m your hostage and you’re keeping me against my will.” She pushed to her feet, clutching the kid close to her chest. “This is over. I’m done. I’m leaving.”
She strode toward the door.
Stupid bitch.
Like that was going to work.
I stepped in front of her. “You forget your place,” I growled at her.
She refused to look me in the eye. Refused to back down. She tried to move around me, but I blocked her again.
“Sit your ass on the chair.”