I smiled gently and admitted quietly, “Yes, she’s Axel’s. We were going to come tell you as soon as possible, but he’s been so swamped with practices and games.” Her eyes filled with tears, and her hands came up to cover her mouth.

Thankfully, Oliver pulled his mother to him and began whispering in her ear, apparently giving her a brief summary of the situation. She turned and glared at her husband, who was making his way down the row toward us now. Jesus, please give me strength to deal with this hateful man.

I heard Oliver murmur, “Mom, just don’t mention this to Dad right now. We don’t want a scene.” But one look at James’s face told me it was too late. He was scowling at something behind me, and I turned again to see Hawk holding Carrie with her back to us as he pointed out her daddy on the field. The words BROXTON and DADDY’S GIRL were emblazoned proudly on the back of her jersey. Fuck me sideways.

Without so much as a hello, James got right in my face. “What the hell is this? You’re still trying to get at my son with this… this desperate attempt at trapping him?”

“James, I’m not trapping anyone. You need to talk to—”

“You are not getting a dollar from this family until I see a paternity test. I’m not as stupid as my son.” I heard growls from my “brothers,” who were near enough to hear.

Violet’s eyes blazed with fury. “James. Shut. Up. Right now!”

“No, Vi. I will not shut up. This little whore has been trying to— Hey! What the—” His ugliness was cut off by Beau, who had yanked James up by the collar and was dragging him up the stairs.

Fuck a damn duck. This was a disaster. “Bode, this is Axel’s family, his mom and brother. They’re good,” I said quickly because I knew these guys were intensely protective of me and Carrie, and I didn’t want them to start trouble with Violet and Oliver.

“I’ve got it,” he said sharply. “Go do… whatever,” he said, gesturing up toward where Beau had disappeared with James. “Cam, go with her,” he ordered, and Cam put an arm protectively around my waist as we started up toward the exit. I knew that he or Tank were the only ones who could handle Beau when he got his temper up.

We practically ran up the steps and looked wildly from side to side, trying to see through the throngs of people crowding the walkway. “Where the hell are they?” I panted.

“Maybe we should look for the trail of blood,” Cam muttered. “I haven’t seen Beau look like that in a long time.”

Lord, help me find them. I do not want to have to visit my brother in jail, I thought as I scanned the area.