Braving it in the New World

Don paced around his lab. He was so angry he was shaking. His heart ached so much that he felt sick. Don grabbed the old cappuccino machine and hurled it into the corner where it smashed apart into a hundred metal pieces. He sat on his favourite stool, unable to decide if he should kill himself or kill Mike.

“What the hell was that?” Raphael said. He’d come running when he’d heard the noise.

“Charlie told me that she had to meet with an author about a book signing event at the store,” Don said. He felt so cold.

“So you smashed the coffee machine because you don’t like the author’s books?” Raphael shrugged, not getting what the fuss was about. Don took a shaky breath and slid a shell cell across his work counter to his brother.

“It’s Mike’s,” Don said. “I found it next to the machine. Check the texts.”

Raphael flipped it open and went pale as he read.

MIKE: Be careful. I think Don suspects something.

CHARLIE: Did you tell him anything?

MIKE: Of course not! But maybe we should. I don’t like lying to him.

CHARLIE: Please don’t tell him, Mikey. I don’t want to hurt him!

MIKE: We’ll talk about it tonight, babe. Can you still slip out?

CHARLIE: I’m trying. He’s hard to get away from.

MIKE: I’ll put the machine in his workshop. That should keep him busy for an hour or so? Think that’ll be enough time?

CHARLIE: Yeah, we can totally do it in an hour... I love you, Mikey.

MIKE: Love you too, babe.

“Holy shit,” Raphael said. “No... no Donnie, this can’t be right. Charlie wouldn’t. Mike wouldn’t.”

“Are you sure about that?” Don snarled. “I know how Mike feels.” He flipped his shell cell open and pressed a few buttons to run a search for Charlie’s shell cell and Mike’s wrist band. A map of NY popped up and sure enough, the two dots were together.

Raphael opened his cell and called Leonardo as Don stormed outside. He could hold Don back, but someone would have to pin down Mike. He couldn’t believe that his brothers were going to fight over a girl.