Page 44 of Rock and a Hard Place

Peter knew his brother was lying. A bad feeling sat in the pit of his stomach. “You son of a bitch, what the hell did you do?”

“Actually, I did you a favor. In fact, you should thank me for cleaning up your mess. You won’t have to deal with your Midwest farm girl anymore.”

Peter dropped the broken pieces of the phone on the side table. He stalked across the room and grabbed Garrett by the front of his designer shirt and shook him. “You better start talking, and fast.” He tightened his grip and lifted Garrett off his feet. Fabric ripped beneath his hands.

“Chill man, will ya? You’re ruining my new shirt. See what I mean? One mention of your little girlfriend and you go postal.”

Peter was about to respond when Adam walked in, futzing with his camera. He took one look at Peter and Garrett. “Dude, what are you doing? Mom and Dad are, like, ten feet away.”

Peter shoved Garrett away, disgusted, but his piercing glare remained. Garrett shrugged and fixed his collar back in place.

“Jeez, what’d you do to piss off Peter? Hit on his girlfriend or something?” Adam plopped onto the couch between the two.

“Adam, shut it,” Peter said through clenched teeth.

“More like ‘something.’” Garrett puffed up his chest.

“Oh, I gotta hear this.” Adam put his feet up on the couch and grinned, with his camera at the ready.

“Peter’s little stalker friend won’t be bothering him anymore. Turns out she got dumped today.” Garrett crossedhis arms, looking satisfied with himself.

Peter’s heart clenched.

Adam lowered his camera, confusion on his face. “Peter, you dumped Libby?”

Peter spoke slowly, his words measured and jaw clenched. “No, I haven’t talked to Libby today. My phone has been missing. Garrett, you better tell me what you did right now, or so help me, I’ll break your frickin’ neck.” He forced his fisted hands to his sides, not trusting himself.

“This morning, while you were on your run, I gave your little friend a call.” Garrett loved an audience, even if it was only Adam.

“I told her how bored you are with her and that you want her to go away. Forever.” Garrett raised an eyebrow, an open challenge to Peter.

Adam’s eyes grew wide with shock. “Garrett, you’re a dead man.”

“Peter doesn’t have it in him. Plus, he’d rather go write a song about it.”

Hot rage overcame Peter. “You’re lying. You wouldn’t dare call Libby.”

“I did more than dare. I was quite convincing. I even had the front office cancel her service!”

Peter dove across the coffee table and sent a flower arrangement crashing to the floor. He slammed into Garrett and knocked the breath out of him as they hit the floor. They rolled around on the hardwood as Peter struck out and tried to pin his brother down. Garrett plowed intoan antique side table, knocking it over along with a crystal lamp that shattered on impact.

Deaf to everything other than his malicious brother, Peter heaved each breath. He grabbed Garrett by the shoulders and slammed him against the floor. A loud thud sounded at the impact of his head to hardwood. Garrett was unable to avoid Peter’s powerful blows any longer.

Peter pinned him and, blind with rage, delivered direct hits. His body hummed with an unseen drive. He noticed the taste of blood in his mouth from one lucky shot Garrett snuck through. But nothing mattered other than the fact Garrett had gone after Libby and hurt her. It was unforgiveable. She’d suffered too much, and this time it was by the hand of his egotistical, power-hungry brother.

Peter went for another hit when he felt himself yanked off the struggling Garrett. His dad and Roger did all they could to restrain him. His mom watched in horror.

“Peter, what the hell is going on in here? Are you out of your mind?” his father roared.

“Jett, calm down. It’s not good for your heart,” Peter’s mom pleaded, taking his father by the arm.

Peter’s breath came in quick, heavy bursts, as adrenaline coursed through his body. He resisted the urge to pummel Garrett into oblivion. The last thing he wanted was more heart problems for his dad. He shrugged away from their grip.

“Karen, I’m fine.” His father looked from Peter to Garrett, waiting for an answer. “Garrett, you want to explain why Peter felt the need to fight with you just minutes after a camera crew left the room?”

The sound of Adam’s camera clicking filled the void. He lounged on the couch, not a care in the world. A carefree grin on his face, he snapped shots of the action, enjoying the drama.

“Adam, put that damned camera down! The last thing we need is evidence of this debacle,” his father said.

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