RICKY'S POV:
Brax, Bianca and I sat in the stands, listening to Heath give his evidence. I glanced at Brax and could see him tensing up as he recalled the day he was beaten up by one of Adam's associates. Running my thumb across his knuckle as I continued to watch him, he glanced at me, smiling at me weakly…
BRAX'S POV:
"Mr. Braxton, why do you think Mr. Sharpe had one of his associates attack you?" our solicitor asked Heath
"Same reason as when he attacked my brother" he replied "to try to scare us. He's a dog and deserves to be locked up"
"Mr. Braxton, I will not tell you to calm down again" the judge warned him
Heath nodded his head in understanding and exhaled a breath…
"Did Mr. Sharpe ever try to get you involved in the deals like he did with your brother?" our solicitor questioned
"My brother was always the chosen one with him. He didn't like me and didn't trust me, so I wasn't on his radar" he informed him
"And how did that make you feel?" he inquired
"Relieved, but also scared and worried for my brother" he admitted "none of us knew what he was getting into, even my brother himself"
"Why didn't you go to the police sooner then?" he asked
"Because I knew he wouldn't give up until he found out who it was that ratted him out, and then my family would have been in even more danger. I couldn't let that happen" Heath informed him
RICKY'S POV:
"Ricky" Casey proclaimed as he hurried into the house, Brax following him
"Hey, bud" I greeted him
"I drew something for you" he informed me
I smiled warmly as Brax handed him his bag and he rooted around in it, pulling out a piece of paper…
"Thank you" I replied, taking the paper from him "what's this meant to be, mate?"
"You, me, Heath, Brax and Auntie Anca" he informed me
I bent down to his level and cupped his chin… "If you keep drawing and painting beautiful pictures like this, we're not gonna have anywhere left to put them"
"Do you not like it when I draw and paint for you?" he inquired
"No, I love it, Case" I assured him, smiling at him warmly "but we're running out of room"
"Oh…" he stated
"I'm sure we'll find somewhere to put them" Brax informed him "now why don't you go and wash your hands for dinner?"
"Okay" he replied, making his way into the bathroom
I sighed heavily and turned to the fridge, finding a space to put Casey's picture…
"What's going on?" Brax asked
"Everything's just getting on top of me" I admitted "the trial, not knowing the outcome, I don't know how much more I can handle, Brax…"
"Hey, hey, come here" he proclaimed, pulling me into him as the tears that had been threatening to fall started to spill out
"Ricky, what's wrong?" Casey's voice questioned a couple of minutes later
"Nothing, bud" I replied "I'm just a bit upset about something but nothing to worry about. Now what would you like for dinner?"
"Pizza" he informed me
"Pizza it is" I proclaimed, pulling away from Brax, wiping at my eyes
Oh dear, so Ricky's starting to crack under the pressure of everything that's going on in her life. What'll happen between her and Brax?