Brax and Aaliyah pulled up slowly outside an old abandoned house. Aaliyah quickly jumped out of the car and ran made her way down the side of the house and into the back garden. Brax followed her "What is this?" he asked her curiously as he saw her search for a key.

"Our safe house" Aaliyah replied simply as she unlocked the door and made her way into the kitchen. As Brax looked around he was shocked to see the house looked lived in. The only thing that gave it away was the think layer of dust that covered everything.

Brax followed Aaliyah upstairs into the bedroom, he watched curiously as she started to lift the floor boards "Are you gonna just stand there or help me?" Aaliyah snapped. Brax quickly started to help. After moving about 7 floor boards, that's when Brax saw a big metal box. Brax helped Aaliyah pull the box out, she opened it. Brax had never seen so much money all in one place before "Is it all there?" Brax questioned curiously.

"What, do you think I'm stupid? This is quarter of it" Aaliyah replied as she shut the box. Brax picked it up and followed Aaliyah back down the stairs and out of the house. He put the box in the back of the Ute and followed her instructions to the next place.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Aden still couldn't get his head around what had happened, who would take a little boy from the beach. He had an idea about Aaliyah's past, but she had never opened up to him like she did the Braxton Brothers. "I brought you this" Leah interrupted his thoughts, as she put down a cup of coffee in front of Aden. He was sat on the sofa in the lounge.

"It's not your fault you know" She added as she sat beside him "It could have happened to anyone"

"Yes I know but she trusted me" Aden replied as he turned to face Leah.

"What is the story with you two anyway?" Leah quizzed curiously trying to change the subject.

"We were together for a while, about 18 months ago. We met at the bar where she was working as a dancer" Aden started. "I took her out one night; and let's just say we had one very intense night together. I stayed at her apartment and never really left"

Aden smiled when he noticed Leah blush "You're the front door guy?" she didn't have a clue why she had said that out loud.

Aden nodded "If you mean did we have sex against her front door then yes" he smiled cheekily, Leah gasped.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Brax pulled up at National Park he was a little curious as to where the money could have been hidden without anyone finding it. Then it became clear as he watched Aaliyah walk over to a big grey rock and start to move it, he quickly hurried to help her.

After the rock had been moved Aaliyah started to move the soil that was beneath it, she didn't have to dig deep. About 10 inches into the ground was the next box, Brax helped the blond pull the box up. Aaliyah opened it and there was another large amount of money.

"Another quarter" Brax questioned. Aaliyah nodded. "So where to now" Brax added, he was intrigued to find out where Aaliyah had hidden the rest.

"That's it" Aaliyah replied "The rest of it is invested somewhere Lexi will never get her hands on it, well without upsetting my mum" Aaliyah forced a smile. Brax frowned as he tried to think where the money could be.

"My mum's clothing company; I gave her the money to get it up and running. We're business partners, how else did you think I could afford uni?" Aaliyah explained. Brax grinned he had obviously underestimated this young mum.

"You said you inherited from your Gran?" Brax asked curiously

"Yeah, she had cancer. I used to look after her. She was the only family member who talked to me after I married Johnny" Aaliyah explained with tears in her eyes "Lexi and her dad are determined I made her change her will so I would get the most money"

"Her dad?" Brax wondered.

"Yes, we are only half sisters. It was my Gran on my mum's side" Aaliyah continued, she now had Brax's full attention.

"Do you know who your dad is then?" Brax asked curiously. Aaliyah nodded "Yeah, his name was Frank Marsden" Brax's eyes widened at Aaliyah's confession.

"The Frankie Marsden?" He exclaimed. Aaliyah just nodded, before either of them could say anything else they were interrupted by Aaliyah's phone ringing. Aaliyah quickly answered it "Hello" she said shakily.

"Hello sis" the voice said. Aaliyah recognized the voice as Lexi. "Have you got it?"

"Yes" Aaliyah replied quickly, Brax was also listening.

"Meet me at Reefton Lakes in and hour…Oh and Ali I want you to come alone" Lexi said before ending the call.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Brax had arranged to meet Heath, Casey and Bianca in the Diner. He knew Aaliyah would probably need something to eat. He had noticed her going a little light headed as they walked back to the car earlier.

"I can't eat anything" Aaliyah protested as Brax and Casey tried to get her to have a muffin.

"Come on Ali, think about he baby" Bianca interrupted.

"How long now?" Aaliyah asked as she turned to Brax.

"40 minutes" he replied as he glanced at his watch.

Aaliyah looked up and noticed the glare she was getting from Colleen.

"It's disgusting if you ask me, a married woman behaving like that. It's the boy I feel sorry for" Colleen said not very quietly to a stunned Irene.

"Colleen that's none of our business" Irene snapped.

"I thought you'd be the first person to stick up for Aden, that poor young man has been chewed up and spat out by that…" Colleen ranted.

"That what?" Aaliyah finally spoke up causing Bianca, Heath, Casey and Brax to look up and pay attention. Aaliyah stood up and headed over to Colleen.

"There are words for women like you…women that go from one man to the next without even stopping to look at the damage it causes. Take poor Aden for instance" Colleen cried judgementally

"Poor Aden" Aaliyah chuckled.

"Yes that poor young man got used and abused by you, and not long after losing his wife" Colleen hit a nerve for Aaliyah. She had heard enough of Colleen opinion.

"His wife! Well let me tell you this Colleen Smart I don't answer to no-one and as far as Aden's concerned. I'm pretty sure he wasn't screaming his wife's name the night we had sex against my front door or in my bed or on the kitchen counter. In fact I don't think he mentioned his wife once" Aaliyah yelled to a flustered Colleen. Bianca and Heath spat their drinks out and laughed as Aaliyah mentioned the sex with Aden. Casey however looked less than impressed.

"You think you're so clever don't you, what about your poor son. He has been caught up in your mess for long enough and now you've got another one on the way. How are you supposed to look after that one? You can't even look after the one you have already got. Pushing him from pillar to post just so you can get your leg over, just remind me again why Riley was with Aden in the first place?" Colleen's words stabbed Aaliyah like a thousand knives. She felt herself begin to cry. Colleen was right this was all her fault; if she hadn't been so desperate to spend time with Casey then none of this would have happened. Before Aaliyah could say another word she was interrupted "It's time to go" Heath said.

Ok so I'm not entirely happy with how this chapter turned out. Please let me know what you think. I also want to say a huge thank you to Gleefulbabe for all her help with this chapter and the next few. As always please R & R much love Nikki x x x

Coming up-

It's a night for revelations as Lexi reveals a secret and then Aaliyah reveals a secret of her own!

Tragedy strikes when a car plunges into Reefton lakes, who will Aaliyah, risk her life to save?

A body is pulled from the lake, but who is it?