Sandpipers' Secrets by Jade Archer Page B

true, huh? ”
    Andy added in a sarcastic drawl.
    Gus’s expression turned belligerent and mean. “Didn’t want to say anything before now because I got bills to pay, and I don’t mind taking their money. But I’m over it. I’d rather move back toSeattle and crash with my sister and her brats than put up with this shit!”
    “Yeah, right, Gus. Whatever!” Andy replied. He turned away, too.
    Brody tried to disappear into the background. He didn’t want to be dragged into the whole, messy scene he could see unfolding before his eyes. He just needed a few seconds of peace to sort it all out. He Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    wasn’t sure what to believe. And what fucking business was it of anyone’s anyway? Zak and Lark’s personal life shouldn’t be the subject of malicious kitchen gossip just because Gus was having a bad day.
    If only Gus would shut up, or at least leave him out of it.
    Of course, his luck came up trumps again when Gus spied him standing quietly, scrubbing away at the already clean pan.
    “What do you think, Brody? Don’t you think it’s fucking sick that Zak’s screwing his baby brother?”
    Brody shrugged absently, still struggling to work out what he felt. Two things sprang to mind immediately, however. One, he wasn’t likely to get Gus to shut up by replying. Dickheads only feed off that sort of thing. And two, in his experience there were a whole lot more sick things in the world than two brothers loving each other.
    Suddenly, Brody realised the kitchen had gone deathly silent again. With a sick sense of dread, he turned around and saw Zak’s back as he stomped away. Lark stood in the doorway, his face a mask of barely restrained fury.
    “Anytime you fuck-heads want to find yourselves another job, you go right ahead! In the meantime, you can all fuck off! Zak and I’ll finish up. You all go home now and decide if you want to come back and keep your fucking mouths shut! Or you can pick up your paycheques at the end of the week.”
    Everyone stood and stared at the normally happy, laughing man that never had a cross or offensive word to say to anyone.
    “I mean it. Get the fuck out. I don’t want to see any of you till Tuesday. If then.” With that Lark stalked away after Zak.
    Brody felt as if his heart sank through his boots and seeped away across the floor into a puddle of shame.
    “Oh, well done, shithead!” Dave shouted at Gus once Lark was gone. “Now we’re all in trouble! Why can’t you keep your big fucking mouth shut, asshole?”
    “Why should I have to keep my mouth shut? And they didn’t deny it, did they?” Gus tried to bluster, but his face was ashen and guilty.
    “If I lose my job over this, you won’t have to worry about keeping your mouth shut! It’ll be wired closed because I’ll break your stupid fucking jaw!” Dave screamed back.
    “Okay! Everybody just cool it!”Rio yelled. “You heard the man! Everybody out!”
    “They might be just a touchy-feely kind of family, dipshit,” Andy broke in, angrily throwing a cloth he had been using to clean his hands down on the counter top.
    “Oh, I’ve no doubt of that at all!” Gus said.
    Riopushed up his sleeves as if anticipating having to going toe-to-toe with Gus. “Shut up. Now, Gus.”
    “Just goes to show you what sort of a fucking mess the country’s in when freaks like that can walk around owning businesses,” Gus mumbled. He threw another dirty pan into the sink, splashing more Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    water down Brody’s front, and stormed off.
    Brody just wished Gus would shut the fuck up and go home.

    * * * *
Brody couldn’t do it. He couldn’t go home like this. He couldn’t just leave knowing that Zak and Lark were angry with him. Worse still was the hurt he had seen in Lark’s eyes. As if he had betrayed them somehow. And maybe he had. He should have said something. He should have