Erica Sharpe was 10-years-old when she was introduced to the Braxton brothers by her older brother Adam, who at 19-years-old had started to get himself into some dodgy activities. As the years went on, Ricky as she liked to be called started to grow closer to the Braxton brothers, Brax and Heath, the connection only strengthening as she spent more and more time at their house when the youngest brother Casey was born, helping the two brothers look after him whilst Adam was off doing God knows what with God knows who, her parents were away on business and Brax and Heath's Mum, Cheryl, was gambling all the family money away…

RICKY'S POV:

I was now 15-years-old and Adam was 24 but still living at home as my parents hated the thought of me being home by myself, which I was even when he was there. He didn't listen to our parents and what they had to say, and he didn't listen to me either, so I pretty much always sought refuge at the Braxton's. Throwing the stuff I'd need into my backpack, knowing Adam was going to be out of town for a few days, I zipped it up and made my way out into the living room…

"Where're you going?" Adam asked

"Brax and Heath's" I informed him "I'm not staying here on my own for however you're long you're going to be gone for this time"

"And when were you going to ask me if it was okay if you could go?" he inquired

"I don't have to ask your permission" I replied "Mum and Dad have said it's okay, and so has Brax"

"What's going on with you and him?" he questioned

"Me and Brax?" I inquired "nothing"

"Good, because if I find out he's been taking advantage of you…" he began

"Bit late to be playing the concerned brother card, Adam" I scoffed "I'm off. See you when you're back"

"Are you not going to make me any food for my journey?" he questioned, pulling me back to him by my wrist, gripping it tightly

"It's in the fridge" I informed him, trying not to wince in pain

"Don't move" he hissed, moving into the kitchen

He made his way back into the living room a minute later… "You can go"

"Thank you" I replied, licking my dry lips and leaving the house, shutting the door behind me

I arrived at the Braxton house ten minutes later, knocking on the front door, rubbing my wrist as it still stung from Adam's vice-like grip…

"Hey" Heath greeted me as he opened the door

"Hey" I mirrored, dumping my bag in the hallway… "God, when did you last shower?"

"Charming" he replied "and yesterday, not that it's anything to do with you"

"Well go and have one. You stink" I proclaimed, shoving him in the direction of the bathroom

"So bloody bossy, Erica" he chuckled, shaking his head at me as he walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him

I chuckled and made my way into the kitchen, opening the fridge to find myself a drink…

"You only come here so you can raid our fridge, don't you?" Brax's voice asked

I smirked and turned to him, shutting the fridge door as I went… "You know it"

"What a cheek" he chuckled, pulling me into his arms… "Hey"

"Hey" I mirrored as we pulled apart "where's Casey?"

"Sleeping" he informed me "Mum woke him when she came in from the pokies"

"What time was that?" I asked, lifting myself up onto the kitchen worktop

"3am I think" he sighed, running his hands over his face

"Why don't you go and have a sleep yourself?" I suggested "I can manage things here for an hour or two"

"And what about when my Mum wakes up? Think you can manage her?" he questioned

"I think if I can manage you and your brothers, I can manage your Mum too" I replied, smiling at him warmly "go on, I insist"

"Thanks" he stated "wake me up in an hour or so, yeah? We're gonna do a barbecue for dinner"

Nodding my head, he made his way into his bedroom, taking my bag from the hallway as he went…

"Oh, it's you making all the row" Cheryl sighed as she made her way out of her bedroom

"Nice to see you, Cheryl" I greeted her, moving off of the worktop

"What time is it?" she questioned

"1pm" I stated "do you want a coffee?"

"Please" she replied, flopping down onto one of the kitchen chairs "where're the boys?"

"Casey and Brax are having a sleep, and Heath's in the shower" I informed her

"Well I'll have this and then I'll be getting off" she admitted, taking the coffee cup from me

"Going anywhere nice?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her

"Spend yesterday's winnings" she informed me "and then maybe go back for some more"

"Don't you think you should be contributing to the house, Mum?" Heath's voice questioned

"Are you trying to tell me what to do?" she inquired

"No, just trying to give you some advice" he informed her "Brax can't do it all on his own"

"Hey, he has Casey's child maintenance coming in. If he needs any more money, he'll have to get a job" she replied

"And how's he supposed to fit that in around school, looking after Case and looking after the house?" he questioned

"I'm sure he'd manage. You done in there? Good, I'm off for a shower" she sighed

"Unbelievable" Heath scoffed as she shut the door behind her "that woman is unbelievable"

I smiled at him apologetically and made my way into Casey's bedroom as I heard him begin to whimper…

"Hey, mate" I greeted him

"Icky" he proclaimed, holding his arms up to me from where he sat in his cot

I chuckled and picked him up, placing him on my hip…

"Irsty" he informed me

"Here you go" I replied, handing him his juice cup from the side "that better?"

He nodded his head and rested it on my shoulder. Glancing back at the bathroom door as it opened and Cheryl appeared, I made my way into the garden, placing Casey into his swing, beginning to push him…

Intrigued? Good…