“Just be aware, she lives and breathes her tutu that I got her,” I admit, and Trick laughs.
“I can’t believe Drew managed to have a daughter who loved ballet probably more than she does,” he says with a grin, and I smile in return.
Angela is obsessed with ballet, and I absolutely love it too. Every show my wife performs Angela is her biggest supporter because of course I wouldn’t let my girl give up her passion. Since we’ve moved home she’s held four fundraisers, helping raise money for different charities, including those she supported in Rose Hill, even though she hasn't returned. Last month, one of her students got an offer of a lifetime on Broadway making my wife the proudest teacher around.
“I love it,” I admit, “and my sweet daughter is the reason why I’ve called church,” I look around the brothers, “Blade has said he’ll pick the loot up from us instead of meeting us halfway like normal because he wants some niece time, his words not mine. We need to discuss the safest way for that to happen, including getting the club bunnies off club property while the exchange happens.”
The brothers chuckle and I open my mouth, ready to discuss the safest way to swap vans without the Chargers noticing—they’re still a pain in my ass, though we’re slowly picking them off one by one. Before I can continue, the church door opens and I scowl as the prospect, Louis, pops his shaved head in and winces at my look.
“Uh, Pres, you told me to interrupt only if it was to do with your wife or daughter,” he says, and I sit up straighter.
My wife should currently be teaching a class because, as I thought, once word got out that she was the one opening a balletstudio, everyone wanted their child in her classes. Swo-year waiting list, making me fucking proud, while Angela is with my mom outside.
“Is it my wife?” I ask just as Drew gently moves Louis back and walks into church, and every brother sits up straight, seeing Willow holding her hand, her big green eyes taking everything in like a five-year-old does.
Where in the fuck is her mother?
“Oh, daddy!” Willow says with excitement as she looks toward her dad, but before Willow can run to him, Drew quickly grabs her arm, stopping her and leaving me confused.
“Willow, sweetheart, I thought you wanted to show Angela your pirouette?” my girl says softly and Willow's face brightens.
“Oh yeah, I forgot,” she says, then looks at us and shouts, “Bye, Daddy!” before she runs off causing the brothers to chuckle while her dad grins and shakes his head and I glance at my wife, tilting my head at how pale she is.
“Little Bird?” I ask and she clears her throat, setting papers on the oak table.
"Sorry I interrupted," she whispers then she looks at Trick, swallowing, “Clark asked me to give you these which I protested but…”
She shakes her head then slides the papers to Trick and I tense.
Shit, please don’t tell me…
“Divorce papers?!” Trick growls and Drew flinches causing me to growl, and she quickly walks over to me.
“I was getting Willow ready to bring her back here…but Clark then asked me to bring this here instead of coming back with me. She decided to rent an apartment across town,” Drew hesitantly says as she leans against my side and I wrap my arm around her and gently caress our boy who moves beneath my palm giving me a sense of calm.
“Trick,” I murmur, watching him slam paper after paper, anger radiating from him.
He growls, “Bang the fucking gavel.”
I swallow hard but do as he asks and bang the gavel just as he slams his chair back and storms out of the church and Drew flinches.
“It’ll be alright, baby,” I murmur, but she shakes her head.
“A woman claims she’s been with Trick for years, before he was forced to marry Clark. She says he wants her as his old lady, and he’s only still married because she’s under his protection,” Drew whispers, “She says she’s pregnant, then accused Clark of keeping them apart when she should have been protected because of who her father and brother are so they never should have gotten married…”
Curses echo in the room and I quickly say, “Church dismissed,” seeing my girl is ready to fall apart for her friend because just as I thought, her and Clark have become close, so close, she’s Angela’s godmother.
The brothers listen, each walking over to kiss my girl's head before leaving and once everyone is gone, I ask, “Are you okay?”
She shrugs, “Ask me when my hormones are not all over the place for my friend.”
“They’ll be alright, they’ll figure shit out, I did. Maybe Clark will open her eyes and see he does love her.” I whisper, and she looks at me with a soft smile.
“I’ve missed you a lot, Bell,” she says, and I hum as I gently run my fingers through her long hair.
"I know, I’ve missed you too. Dad has Angela tonight because I need some wife time," I say and she instantly relaxes into me making me smile.
She nods, sighs, and says, "Mom wanted her again, actually she demanded it before I walked in here and I shook my head because I just…"
