BRAX'S POV:
"Heath, what do you mean? Did Adam do this to you?" I proclaimed "Heath!"
"Brax, just stop" Ricky begged "we need to get him to a hospital"
"No! If your brother's around, which more than likely he is, we need to get out of here" I replied
"So we're going to up and leave with your brother lying there unconscious and unresponsive? Yeah, real clever" she scoffed
"I'm sorry but your brother is dangerous. If he's in town we can't risk hanging around" I sighed
"He might not even be in town" she replied "Heath comes first. We need to get him to hospital"
I glanced at her and then back to Heath, eventually nodding my head in agreement… "I'll take him. You stay here with Casey and keep all the doors and windows locked, okay?"
"Okay" she replied. Smiling at her weakly, I grabbed my keys and moved to the sofa, picking Heath up. Moving to the front door, I stepped outside and onto the porch, waiting for Ricky to shut and lock it behind me
RICKY'S POV:
"Ricky" Casey whispered as I sat in the living room, trying to sort everything out in my head
"Hey, little fella. What're you doing out of bed?" I questioned
"Can't sleep. Bad dream" he admitted "can I stay here?"
I glanced at the time and nodded my head, signalling yes, opening my arms to him. Smiling as he climbed into them, I grabbed the blanket from behind me and wrapped it around us, switching the TV on, hoping he'd soon drift off to sleep again…
The next morning I awoke, the TV playing to itself, Casey in my arms. Stretching as best I could without waking him, I gently eased myself up off the sofa and switched the TV off; walking into the kitchen to make myself a coffee, hearing my phone start to vibrate on the coffee table where I'd left it. Hurrying through so it didn't wake Casey, I saw the caller ID… Adam…
"Adam" I greeted him
"Alright, sis. Long time no speak" he stated
"Yeah" I replied, licking my suddenly dry lips "what's going on?"
"I've been arrested" he informed me "drug use and intent to supply. I need your help"
"What do you mean?" I questioned nervously, biting down on my bottom lip
"I need you to get in touch with my lawyer, get him to get me out on bail" he replied
"It doesn't sound as though you'll be getting out at all to me" I admitted
"What?" he asked
"Answer me honestly; did you order someone to beat Heath up last night?" I inquired
"How could I when I've been arrested? Bit slow on the uptake, aren't you, sis? Must be those uneducated Braxton's" he sighed, chuckling softly
"Just answer the question, Adam" I replied "I know you have your contacts"
"I'm not answering any of your questions until you get in touch with my lawyer" he informed me
"I won't be getting in touch with your lawyer" I admitted "you're where you belong. Don't bother contacting me again"
Hanging up the phone, I set it down on the side and leant against the worktop…
"Ricky…" Casey's voice spoke
"Morning, little guy" I greeted him
"Morning. I'm hungry" he admitted
"Let's get you some breakfast then, shall we?" I suggested "go and sit down"
He climbed up onto one of the chairs at the kitchen table and sat down whilst I organised him some cereal. Setting it down in front of him, I began to organise myself some toast, my phone vibrating again. Brax…
"Hey" I greeted him, sighing with relief
"Hey" he mirrored "sorry it's taken me so long to call"
"It's okay, how's Heath?" I questioned
"Okay. We had to wait for a doctor to come on duty so they could check the scans and x-rays he's had done. He's just been patched up now so we should be back within the hour. How're you and Casey?" he questioned
"We're good, just having some breakfast" I informed him "Casey's waving"
"Tell him I say hi, will you?" he asked
"Course. See you soon, yeah?" I inquired
"Yeah" he replied "I'll text when we leave. Love you"
"Love you too" I mirrored, both of us hanging up the phone "Brax says hi, Case"
He smiled at me warmly and went back to eating his cereal. After we'd both finished our breakfast, I decided to give Casey a bath. By the time we'd both got ourselves sorted, Brax had text to say he and Heath were on their way home…
BRAX'S POV:
After sorting Heath, the doctor saying that he needed at least a day of rest, I made my way into the kitchen, pouring myself a cup of coffee, Ricky wrapping her arms around me from behind…
"Hey" I greeted her
"Hey" she mirrored "why don't you go for a sleep? I can manage"
"You've been managing all night, I'll be fine" I assured her "I'll just crash later. How was your night?"
"Fine" she replied "Casey woke up in the night and I was still up so we crashed on the sofa, and then this morning…"
"And then this morning what?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow at her
"And then this morning Adam called" she informed me "he's been arrested"
"What did he want?" I questioned
"He's been arrested for drug use and intent to supply" she explained "he wanted me to get in touch with his lawyer but I told him no. He's out of our lives, Brax"
"Until he manages to get in touch with one of his contacts who'll threaten us" I sighed
"Brax, please" she whispered
"Brax please what? We're in danger, Ricky. And you've just made it ten times worse" I informed her
Is Brax right? Has Ricky made the danger they're in ten times worse? Or is he overreacting because of what happened to Heath/wanting to protect his family?