AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thanks to all those supporting this story; glad you are enjoying.

Chapter 9

The following morning at breakfast Brax announced that he would be holding another family meeting in the house that night.

Casey of course had questioned his oldest brother as to why, but keeping true to his form, Brax was not going to utter a word to his youngest brother; the less Casey knew the better it would be.

Casey was then left to agree and promised to make his way home in time from the gym and also inform Heath when he got to the gym for his shift.

Phoebe was hesitant to be involved but realised she had to for the sake of Kyle, and Ricky remained strong by Brax's side.

All six people were situated in a scattered array through-out the Braxton's living room as Brax was ready to announce his second family meeting.

"So you said you know who's behind this?" Heath questioned.

Casey glanced up at Heath; curious to know how his brother knew before he did, but Brax had mentioned it did have to do with Kyle's attacker when Heath had come around earlier that day at the restaurant.

"Yes, Kyle seems adamant on the two attackers," Brax explained.

"Who?" Phoebe asked; glancing up at Kyle.

"It was two guys from Melbourne prison when I was in," Kyle explained.

Phoebe shuddered and held Kyle tightly, yet gently around the waist.

"Anyway, now we have the information about these two prison thugs; it can give us an idea on how to make our plan of attack. Now Kyle: I still want you with someone at all times and watch your back. Heath and I will track them down and make them pay, and Case, you just help Kyle keep safe," Brax instructed.

Casey shrugged reluctantly, knowing that arguing with Brax again would not make any difference.

"What do they at least look like?" Casey asked.

Brax turned and scowled at his youngest brother.

"What; it's so I can know if I see them around here or near Kyle," Casey spat; eye rolling at Brax.

Kyle moved towards the couch where Casey had flopped himself.

"One has brown hair with a slightly unshaven appearance and faint mustache, and the other is quite stocky with his muscles, and is bald with some side burns," Kyle described.

"Don't go looking for them: any of you; not unless it's at my word," Brax sternly warned; pointing his finger towards the whole of his family.

A few days later, Casey was packing up the last of his yoga mats and cones on the beach when he saw two familiar looking men near the beachside. They were the ones who attacked Kyle; I'm sure of it, Casey thought, and they match Kyle's description.

Casey dropped his equipment and made his way over to the criminals, ignoring Brax's prior warning to keep out of things; he just had to find out if he could discover what else they might have planned and the image of his beaten brother sent anger coursing through his body.

Casey appeared beside the criminals.

"Can we help you?" Gunno barked and gave a snicker.

"No, but you can back off and leave my brother the hell alone!" Casey yelled; completely forgetting the dangers he was in, while he just wanted revenge for his brother.

Dave snickered this time, "Your brother huh; and who might that be?"

"Don't play dumb. I know it was you two that were at the house the other week and almost beat my brother to death!" Casey shouted.

"Can't prove nothing, kid," Gunno laughed.

"I don't care who you both think you are but you don't mess with us," Casey spat proudly, feeling pleased at standing up for himself.

Dave smiled a twisted smile at Casey.

"Alright: if you say so."

Casey squinted his eyes in uncertainty; this seemed all too easy. Gunno side glanced at Dave trying to gather what his prison mate was up to.

"Casey, is there any trouble here?" John Palmer questioned; approaching the three.

"We don't have a problem," Dave spat, while Gunno shrugged.

Casey slowly backed away and kept his gaze on the two.

I hope I haven't just made things worse, he wondered.

Gunno waited until John's shifty gaze was out of sight.

"What you going on about, we're done with Kyle?" Gunno whispered.

"Shut up would ya. Besides, we are done with Kyle; for now. We have a new target: his brother, and if that doesn't make Kyle cringe, then we go to plan B. Besides if he knows about us, our cover could be blown and we'd be done for. No, that loser is gonna pay," Dave explained, in a deep husky voice.

Casey was in the office of the gym ready to close up for the end of the night. Heath had gone to spend the night with Bianca and the final customer had just left.

Casey turned off the computer and was about to leave the office when he heard the creaking of the gym door.

Casey glanced around and listened carefully in order to hear it again, but nothing but silence was heard.

Casey shut the office door behind him and as he had his back to the main section of the gym locking the office door.

Gunno and Dave crept up behind him; grabbing Casey by surprise and restraining any attempts for Casey to break free.

The men dragged Casey towards a weight machine and shoved him down; holding his right arm out as tight as it would go.

Casey grimaced at the discomfort, trying to think up a way to get loose.

As Dave had a firm hold on Casey's body, Gunno applied a five kilo weight brick to the machine, resting the weight against Casey's wrist bone.

"Now, we have a little bone to pick with you," sneered Big D.

"We know you know it was us that was after Kyle Bennett, but that's just gonna stay between us; isn't it?" Gunno growled out.

Casey glared hard at the criminals and despite feeling the pressure on his wrist, was not going to surrender so easily.

"Kyle isn't a Bennett; he's a Braxton!" Casey spat.

"Braxton huh? No wonder he was a hard one to track down. The name Braxton has a hard name in the prison walls," Dave commented.

"Any relation to Danny Braxton?" Gunno questioned.

"I'm not telling you anything you thugs," Casey spat.

Dave shrugged and glanced at Gunno to pass him another weight.

Casey groaned as another five kilo's of pressure was pressed down on his wrist.

"You wanna try that again," Dave sneered.

Casey turned his head to face the stockier of the two men and spat at him.

"Ech!" Dave exclaimed and grabbed another weight, in which Gunno immediately dumped it on top of the ten already there.

Casey grimaced in pain as the immense pressure on his wrist was unbearable. He could feel blood circulation being compromised and the bone beginning to squash.

"You can send a message to Kyle for us: tell him this ain't over; in fact this is just the beginning," Gunno warned and slammed the weights down on Casey's wrist quickly.

Casey felt a heart-wrecking crack and shouted in pain.

Gunno and Dave laughed and released Casey, allowing the youngest Braxton to shoot up, gripping his swollen wrist.

"You won't get away with this," Casey growled and ran after the criminals; gripping Gunno around the neck with his uninjured arm.

Dave pulled Casey off and punched him forcefully in the abdomen.

Casey coughed and fell to the floor, completely winded by the punch; hitting his head hard on the metal rod of one of the gym equipment.

Casey was still in shock from his injured wrist and now his head was seeping blood from the large gash he'd sustained in the fall.

Knowing he had to get out and get help, Casey scrambled his way out of the gym and pulling himself to his feet, hazily locked the door and attempted to shuffle his way home.

Casey only managed to make it a few feet before the intensity of the pain overcame him and he collapsed on the ground.

Olivia and Hunter walked hand in hand along the beachside muttering quietly and affectionately to each other.

"Hunter what's that?" Olivia asked, pointing towards a dark shadow on the ground.

As the teens walked closer they soon came to realise it was a person lying on the ground.

"Oh, my gosh!" exclaimed Olivia.

Both teens rushed over towards Casey's barely conscious body.

"Is he breathing?" Olivia questioned.

Hunter cautiously kneeled down, pushing away any of his own fear that they had just stumbled upon a dead body, but relief coursed through him when upon close inspection he saw the faint rise and fall of Casey's chest.

"He's still breathing, but barely though," Hunter answered.

Olivia had her hand rested over her mouth still in a state of shock.

"What do we do?" the petite teen asked.

"Go and get help!" Hunter ordered.

Olivia took off in a flash and ran all the way back to Irene's.

Olivia burst through the back door, startling the older women.

"What in blue blazers is going on?" Irene questioned.

Olivia was unable to contain her emotions any longer and burst into tears.

Irene went straight to her foster daughter's side and held her in a hug.

"Sweetheart what's wrong?"

"He's...he's hurt bad..." Olivia's voice cracked as she spoke.

"Who love? Hunter?" Irene queried.

Olivia shook her head.

"No. I don't know his name but I've seen him at the gym with Heath before," Olivia explained, still crying.

Irene furrowed her brow.

"Is it Casey, Heath's brother?"

Olivia shrugged.

Bianca ran out of the bedroom squealing with Heath chasing behind, grabbing her around the waist and laughing.

The loved-up couple halted when they noticed the upset teen.

Bianca caught her breath and lightly slapped at her husband's hand on her waist.

"Olivia what's wrong?" Bianca asked.

Olivia just looked towards the couple and continued to cry. "Heath love, I think it's Casey: he's been hurt," Irene told.

Heath's eyes widened in panic and his playful smile immediately dropped, as he slowly released his hold on Bianca.

"Where; where is he?!" Heath shouted.

Heath didn't wait for a reply when Heath shouted again.

"Tell me where he is damn it! Isn't it bad enough you left him there?!"

Olivia continued to cry as Irene patted her back; giving the fired-up Braxton a harsh glare.

"Heath, I know you are upset, but don't you have a go at her like that," Irene scolded.

Heath huffed with annoyance; he couldn't help it: his brother's were his life.

Bianca rubbed Heath's back gently.

"Calm down and let her explain," she said quietly.

"Tell us where Casey is sweetheart," Irene encouraged.

Olivia sniffed and pulled away from Irene.

"Hunter's with him. He's outside the gym," Olivia explained.

Heath didn't wait to hear anymore before rushing out of the house at lightning speed and pounding the pavement until he neared the gym.

As soon as Heath took sight of a young boy kneeling down to another man lying on the ground, Heath pushed faster to reach them.

Heath tapped Hunter harshly on the shoulder upon seeing blood on the ground surrounding Casey.

"Move!" Heath barked.

Hunter quickly stepped away and stood beside Olivia and Irene who had followed Heath to the scene of the incident.

Heath tapped Casey's face gently.

"Casey, Case: can you hear me?"

Heath stared at his brother; assessing his injured head and swollen and bruised wrist.

Heath ripped his phone out of his pocket; letting out a loud groan when his oldest brother didn't bother to pick up.

"Brax: get here now! Case has been attacked at the gym!" Heath yelled into the phone, leaving a voice message.

Hunter and Olivia stayed comforted by Irene, watching the scene in front of them.

"Loves, you two go home; Bianca's there," Irene instructed.

Hunter took Olivia's hand in his and the two headed back to Irene's in silence.

Heath waited with Casey while the ambulance placed his brother on a stretcher, then jumped into the back of the van.

Irene made her way back to the house to see Hunter and Olivia sitting on the couch.

"Is Casey going to be alright?" Olivia asked, still holding onto Hunter's hand in her lap.

"The hospital will take care of him," Irene answered.

Bianca made Irene and herself a cup of tea and waited to hear news back from her husband.

Brax gingerly kissed Ricky again.

"Stop it," Ricky laughed playfully.

Brax's phone buzzed on the nightstand for the third time.

"Augh," Brax groaned.

"Maybe you should check who it's from," Ricky suggested.

Brax leaned over Ricky, kissing her again.

"Whatever it is, better be important to be interrupting my time with my women," Brax replied; leaning up to reach for his phone.

Brax slid his phone open to reveal three missed calls from Heath and one voice message.

"It's from Heath; what's that bloody bloke done now?" Brax mumbled, listening to the voice message.

'Brax: get here now! Case has been attacked at the gym!'

Brax hopped out of the bed quick-smart.

"What? What is it?" Ricky asked.

Brax quickly redialed Heath's number.

"It's Case; he's been hurt," Brax whispered to Ricky.

"Heath: what's going on?" Brax demanded, when Heath picked up the phone.

"About bloody time bro!" Heath exclaimed.

"Heath, what's happening; how's Casey?"

"He's stable, the doctor's are seeing to him now. I don't know what's going on yet," Heath answered.

"Alright; I'll be down at the hospital as soon as I can," Brax affirmed.

"Righty-o."

Brax hung up on his brother and kissed Ricky one last time.

"Wait Brax: I'm coming with you," Ricky said, shuffling out of the bed to get dressed.

"I'm so over these blokes coming after my family."

Ricky sighed and wrapped her arms around Brax's waist.

"Please be careful; I don't want you hurt too Brax."

Brax hump'h, and finished putting on his shirt.

"Let's go," he ordered.

Grabbing his keys, Ricky and Brax headed over to the hospital, meeting Heath in the waiting room.

"Where's Casey?" Brax asked.

"The doc's still with him. Have you contacted Kyle?"

Brax shook his head.

"I figured he was safe enough at Angelo's with Phoebe and the whole of Summer Bay community with the gathering," Brax responded.

"I was going to head over just before it all finished up to make sure he stayed safe," Brax added.

Brax grabbed his phone out and called Angelo's.

"Angelo's restaurant and bar; this is Phoebe, how may I help you?" Phoebe answered in a cheerful tone.

"Phoebe it's Brax, get Kyle on the phone now!" Brax ordered.

"What's going on?" Phoebe asked, glancing over at Kyle who was happily attending to some customers.

"Just get him," Brax repeated.

"No, Brax tell me what's wrong," Phoebe pushed.

"Look, those thugs that attacked Kyle few weeks ago had a go at Casey and we're here in hospital," Brax explained.

"Oh my gosh; is he okay?" Phoebe exclaimed.

By now Kyle had returned to the bar and overheard Phoebe's shocked expression and could tell by the stunned look on her face that something bad had happened.

"Phoebe what is it?" Kyle whispered.

"It's Brax, he said Casey's been hurt and is in hospital," Phoebe explained.

"Phoebe; is that Kyle; is he there?" Brax called down the phone.

Kyle could hear Brax's faint voice through the phone and took the phone from Phoebe; taking a glance around the restaurant; assessing signs of danger.

"Brax what happened?" Kyle whispered.

"I don't know Kyle, but Casey apparently had been attacked pretty badly and my guess is by the same thugs that are after you," Brax whispered, trying not to alert attention from the people walking back and forth in the hospital.

"I'll finish up right away and meet you at the hospital," Kyle said quickly.

"No," Brax snapped, in a panic; he couldn't risk Kyle getting injured again if these thugs were still on the loose.

"No; you stay right there at the restaurant. You will have a better chance of staying safe with all those people than leaving; you understand me, Kyle?" Brax warned.

"Yeah, okay," Kyle replied, "But what about Casey?"

"As soon as I find out what's happening, I'll come over and pick you and Phoebe up from the restaurant," Brax said.

"Alright; just keep me posted on Case," Kyle responded with an inch of concern.

Not seconds after Brax hung up his phone, it buzzed again; this time it was John Palmer.

"G'day Brax, just wanted to make sure young Casey was alright," John asked.

Brax furrowed his brow; how could John know Casey was in hospital?

"We're still waiting to hear what the doctor says," Brax replied.

"Doctor?" John exclaimed.

"Casey's in the hospital," Brax answered, "That's what I thought you meant."

"Oh my, no; I was checking in after catching him arguing with some big bloke and his mate on the beach earlier," John explained.

"What? Who did these guys look like?" Brax demanded.

"Definitely ones I haven't seen around town before; you could tell they weren't locals; all rough looking and smelled trouble to me." Brax sighed heavily, having a fair idea who these 'blokes' were.

"Thanks John."

"Hey, you let me know how young Casey is getting on; it seems you fellas have been in some trouble lately."

Brax hung up his phone a second time and Ricky approached her partner as he looked almost as if he was about to pace the floor in frustration again.

"What was that about?" Ricky asked softly.

Brax gazed hard at Ricky, but before he had the chance to explain, Nate appeared.

"Doc, what's happening?" Heath asked.

Brax rushed to stand beside his brother.

"When can I see him?" Brax demanded.

"Casey has just finished with his x-rays now. It appears he had sustained quite a nasty fracture to his wrist, as well as some superficial bruising over the abdomen; there seems to be no internal bleeding, but he will have to remain in hospital for a few days to make sure, and the nasty gash on his head has been stitched up. The nurses are setting his wrist now and he's still heavily sedated, but you can go and see him shortly," Nate explained.

Brax huffed and ran his hand through his hair.

"I can't believe Casey went after this bloke, when I told him to keep away," Brax gasped.

"Is that what you were talking about on the phone?" Ricky asked.

"John saw Casey arguing with two unusual blokes; likely these thugs!" Brax yelled.

With Kyle having been hurt and now Casey, Brax was at his wits end to protect his family.

"You can't be sure it was the same guys that are after Kyle," Heath questioned.

"Who else would it be, Heath?" Brax snapped.

Nate returned a few moments later saying that they could each go in and see Casey, but in small groups.

Brax was still too angry to go in first, so Heath took his opportunity, seeing as he had to get back home to Bianca anyhow.

Heath returned back home to Irene's. Bianca was sitting near the couch softly chatting to Olivia and Hunter who sat cuddling close on the couch.

Irene glanced at Heath as he walked in.

"How's Casey, love?"

"Yeah, he'll be fine; just banged up pretty bad," Heath replied.

Bianca got up and approached her husband, giving him a gentle kiss.

Heath made his way over to Olivia and Hunter, with a slight shame face. He knew how he'd acted was rash and that the teens did not deserve it, but apologising just wasn't Heath's strong point.

"Ah kids: Olivia and..."

"Hunter," Hunter finished for Heath.

"Hunter. I guess I owe you both an apology for being so rough with you both tonight. If it means anything, I appreciate that you were there for my little brother," Heath struggled to say.

Olivia and Hunter nodded; slipping their hands together.

"I'm sorry about your brother; I hope he's going to be okay," Olivia said softly and with a sympathetic smile.

Heath nodded and Bianca rested her chin on his shoulder.

"Did you want a cup of tea love?" Irene asked, as she flicked on the kettle.

"No Irene. I think I'm just gonna have an early night," Heath replied.

"Alright loves."

Bianca held Heath hand as they wandered towards the bedroom.

"Good night Irene, goodnight Olivia and Hunter," Bianca said.

"Night," Olivia replied sweetly.

Bianca softly rubbed Heath's bare chest.

"What are you thinking about?"

Heath rested back with his gaze firmly on the ceiling and his hands behind his head.

"Just about these thugs; if they are as dangerous as Kyle says they are, we could be in real trouble. I mean coming after Case now too," Heath sighed.

Heath looked over at Bianca and rested his arm around her and giving her a soft kiss.

"You have to promise me that you won't come anywhere near my family until this is sorted. I don't want our little one to be harmed," Heath explained.

"I don't want that either, but you can't keep me away Heath; you need to be careful too."

The two then snuggled under the covers and slowly fell asleep.