AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thank you to all my readers and reviewers, I appreciate it so much. :)

Chapter 77: People aren't always what they seem.

Heath was down at the beach drying off his surfboard after a swim when a young man approached him. "You're Heath Braxton right?"

"Who's asking?" Heath questioned.

"I have some news regarding Casey." The man said.

"What about Casey?" Heath stopped drying his surfboard and stood to give his full attention to the man. "Who are you?"

"I'm an old friend of Hero Mulvin, Jackson's older brother and I've seen Casey hanging around Jackson a lot."

"So?"

"Hero Mulvin, before he was in the gang, who call themselves The Curers, was a great guy." The man explained.

"Marvelous. What's this got to do with Casey?" Heath pushed.

"My point is, once he started hanging out with this group, his behavior changed. He started skipping school, smoking, he withdrew from his friends and family, turning against them, all except his brother Jackson and he became dangerous."

Some of what this guy was describing fit Casey's recent behavior and Heath listened in further. "How dangerous?"

"Let's just say, some of the things Hero and other members have done, if they were caught, they would be in jail for a long time."

Heath grew more concerned. The man leaned in to whisper to Heath. "They are renowned for doing unlawful acts, like taking and selling drugs, armed robbery, brutal bashing, rape and some have committed murder."

Heath couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So you're saying Casey will end up involved in these kinds of acts? "

"They work on manipulating naïve kids to be part of their group. Someone as young as your brother, they usually get to do their dirty jobs first so they don't get caught. Your brother won't have a choice but to do what they want because by the time they are ready for him, they would have made him believe they were the only ones who supported him. If you don't get your brother away from this gang soon, he could be in real danger and The Curers do not like to be messed with. One wrong move by your brother and it could cost him his life."

Heath stood in shock. The man turned to leave. "Ah thanks mate." Heath said.

"Just remember what I said."

Heath picked up his surfboard, he had to get home and tell Brax.

Casey walked out of his room to get a drink from the kitchen. He had avoided his brothers since his argument last night and was spending his suspension time in his room as he knew Brax was only staying at home to make sure he didn't go out.

Casey glared at Brax as he got his can of drink from the fridge. "You don't have to stay here and babysit me. I won't go anywhere." He said in a grumpy tone.

"Good. Keep it that way." Brax replied not looking up from reading his magazine.

Casey stormed back into his room, slamming the door. Brax sighed. Casey's behavior was really doing his head in. Not long after Heath came through the door.

"Hey mate, good surf?" Brax asked.

"Yeah, you should have come." Heath replied and Brax shrugged. "How's the grumpy squirt?"

"Still the same."

Heath put his surfboard down and walked over to the table where Brax was sitting. "I need to tell you about something."

Brax looked up and put away his magazine. "What's up?" Heath sat down.

"Some guy came up to me at the beach, saying he was a friend of Jackson's brother. He told me this gang Casey is hanging around is really dangerous. They manipulate young kids like Casey to do unlawful acts."

Heath went on to tell Brax everything the guy had told him. Brax shifted in his seat as his concerns grew for his baby brother's safety. After much discussion between the brothers they got up. "We need to talk to Casey." Brax concluded.

Walking into the lounge room Brax yelled, "Casey we need to talk to you."

After several moments Casey walked into the room. "What?" He said coldly.

"You're staying away from that Jackson kid ya hear!" Heath ordered.

"Heath." Brax spoke he didn't just want to tell Casey out right as he knew it would just lead to an argument again.

"What! Not this again! Who are you to tell me what to do?" Casey yelled back.

"I'm your brother and you do what I tell ya!" Heath yelled.

"Get real Heath!"

"Hey...Heath please...Casey enough!" Brax shouted.

"I didn't come out here to have you lecture me about who I spend my time with!" Casey yelled.

"Casey will you just listen!" Brax snapped.

"Why should I?"

As Casey went to storm off Brax stood in front of him, he had had enough of this. This was serious, it was about his brother's life.

"Casey sit!" Brax demanded. Casey looked at his brother defiantly. "Sit!" Brax demanded again through gritted teeth.

"Agh! Fine!" Casey slumped down on the couch as Heath and Brax walked over and stood in front of him.

"Casey we've been told some news about Jackson and his brother and this gang you're hanging with." Brax explained.

"So?"

"Are you even listening?" Heath pushed.

Casey glared at Heath and pulled a face. "Yes I'm listening. I have too." Casey stopped when he saw Brax give him a death glare.

"These guys are dangerous Casey and I do not want you going anywhere near them again." Brax ordered.

"Stop asking me to stop seeing my friend because I won't!" Casey yelled back.

"I'm not asking you Casey. I'm telling you." Brax replied. "Brax that's not fair!"

"I don't care what's fair, Casey!" Brax yelled.

"You just don't want me hanging around him because it doesn't suit you, so you make up some story about how dangerous they are!" Casey snapped and went to stand up but was pushed back down by Heath.

"Oi, listen to him! We're serious." Heath ordered firmly.

"Fine. Tell me how dangerous they are!" Casey demanded.

"That is not any of your concern." Brax told him.

"Right, of course. You're both liars! No wonder I spend time with the gang, at least they understand me!" Casey snapped, frustrated that his brother's were turning against him and not letting him live his own life.

Both Heath and Brax were getting frustrated they just could not get through to Casey about the gang. Brax grabbed Casey's collar of his shirt and pushed him into the couch.

"Stay away from Jackson and that gang!" He warned.

"You can't tell me who I can hang with." Casey fought.

Brax released Casey and stood up. "I can...and I will…and don't you dare defy me." Brax replied in an icy tone and turned away.

Casey glared daggers at his brothers and stood up. "I don't believe this!" He grumbled and stormed back to his room.