BRAX'S POV:
Ricky sat on the end of my bed in silence, watching me pack. Moving from my chest of drawers, I set the t-shirts I was taking with me on the bed next to her and knelt down in front of her…
"Talk to me" I begged
"I'm scared" she admitted "scared the same thing will happen to you again"
"I'll be okay, I promise" I assured her, entwining my hands with hers as I kissed her softly
"I can't help but be scared, I'm sorry" she informed me
"You don't have to apologise" I replied, standing up and continuing to pack
"Have you given any more thought to ditching Adam after this job?" she asked
"If I want a life for us, Heath and Casey, which I do, I'm going to have to" I replied "I'm just worried about how he's gonna take it"
I watched as Ricky stood up from the bed and moved over to me, wrapping her arms around my waist… "We'll handle whatever he throws your way, together"
I nodded my head in agreement, capturing her lips in mine. Bringing my hand up to cup her cheek, deepening the kiss, the sound of Adam's car horn pulled us apart… "I've gotta go"
"Promise me you'll be careful" she begged
"I will" I assured her, zipping up my bag, kissing her again before leaving the room
"I love you" she informed me as I walked to the front door
Turning back to her, I walked to her and kissed her passionately, resting my forehead against hers… "I love you too"
"I shouldn't have to wait, Brax" Adam sighed as I climbed into the passenger seat of his car
"Sorry" I replied "I was just filling Ricky in on some stuff to do with Casey"
"Couldn't Heath do it?" he questioned
"What do you think?" I inquired as he reversed out of my driveway
RICKY'S POV:
"He won't ring" Heath informed me as I sat at the patio table, staring at my phone
"What?" I questioned
"Brax, he won't ring. Won't risk getting caught by Adam" he explained "he'll send you a text maybe, but he won't call"
"I just wanna hear his voice, know he's okay" I admitted "that's not a bad thing, is it?"
"When he's working with, or for, should I say, a dog like your brother, then no, it's not" he replied
"He will get out of it, won't he?" I asked
"Get out of what?" he inquired
"Working with Adam after this job" I replied "I dread to think how he's gonna take it"
Heath smiled at me reassuringly and wrapped his arm around my shoulder… "He'll be okay"
"I hope so" I admitted
BRAX'S POV:
"Deal's done. Gonna tell Adam about not working for him any more in the morning. Hope Heath and Casey are okay and Mum's not giving you too much grief. See you soon, love you x"
"You've not been able to drag yourself away from your phone all evening" Adam proclaimed as he walked into the room of the motel we were staying in
"Just checking in on Casey" I admitted as he handed me a beer
"Here's to a good deal" he informed me "you did good today, Brax. I'm looking forward to you helping me out a lot more in the future"
I smiled at him weakly and took a long sip of my beer, dreading tomorrow…
RICKY'S POV:
Casey wouldn't settle for his afternoon nap as Cheryl continually banged around the house, getting herself organised for the pokies so I decided to take him out to the grocery store for the shopping we needed. Arriving back at the house an hour or so later, my legs almost gave way beneath me as I saw Brax lying bloodied and bruised in the middle of the driveway…
"Heath! Heath!" I shouted
"What is it?" he questioned as he made his way out of the front door, his facial expression changing as he saw Brax "oh crap no, Ricky, get Casey inside"
"Is he breathing?" I questioned
"I don't know" he replied "just get Casey inside"
Doing as he said I made my way inside and watched from the window as Heath spoke to the emergency services on the phone…
BRAX'S POV:
"Heath…" I whispered "Ricky…"
"Don't talk, bro" he replied "you're gonna be okay. The ambulance is on it's way"
"Ricky, where is she?" I asked
"She's inside with Casey, she's fine" he assured me
"Get Maureen to look after him, just get someone to look after Casey" I informed him "I don't want her here on her own"
He nodded his head in understanding, pulling out his phone…
RICKY'S POV:
Brax's doctor had informed us he was now allowed visitors. Standing up, Heath smiled at me warmly and I squeezed his hand as I walked past him and into Brax's ward, inhaling and exhaling a breath as I did…
"Hey" he greeted me
"Hey" I mirrored
"Before you say anything, it was nothing to do with the deal" he informed me
"I know. I guess he didn't take the news about you not working for him anymore very well?" I questioned
He nodded his head, signalling yes… "Don't look at me like that, Ric"
"I wish you'd never gone in the first place" I admitted
"Neither do I" he replied
I smiled at him weakly and sat down in the chair by his bedside… "How're you feeling?"
"Sore and tired" he admitted "I'm glad you're safe though"
"Why wouldn't I be?" I inquired
"He threatened you, your safety" he informed me
I swallowed a lump in my throat and entwined my hand with his… "Brax, we need to get out of here, sooner rather than later"
"I don't care about me finishing school, but Heath, I want him to" he admitted
"Wherever we go, he can finish school there" I replied "but we need to get away from here, Brax. It's too risky, especially if I'm being threatened now too. Who knows what Adam could next"
"We can't just make the decision ourselves, Heath needs to be involved too" he informed me
I nodded my head in understanding… "I'll talk to him"
"Now?" he questioned
"No time like the present. And you need to rest" I informed him "I'll see you soon"
What's Heath going to say about the prospect of moving sooner than anticipated, and what're he, Brax, Ricky and Casey going to do and where're they going to go?