Peter pulled away from Carla and she shuddered from an imaginary chill she felt. He was pacing now back and forth behind her. Thoughts of what Michelle might do with the information she thought she'd discovered did scare him a little but what proof did she have. A few marks on Carla's body and her slumped on the bathroom floor was no evidence that any of this was his fault. Carla had a known history of drinking, her injuries could have been self inflicted for all anyone else knew. He needed something to take his mind off of it but had no fuel in the house for which to consume to block his thoughts.

Carla was frightened, she had just knowingly trapped herself in the flat with a loose cannon. He could turn at any second, lose it again and attack her. Suddenly she regretted telling Michelle to go, but she had to do what she knew was for the best. Whatever this was it was between her and Peter and they were strong enough to sort this out on their own. She dared not move however, if she sat still and quiet surely she couldn't do anything to provoke him.

Beginning to feel highly frustrated Peter clenched his fists at his sides, digging in his nails hard so it was painful, in an attempt to stop himself from lashing out. He wanted to let all of his frustration out and his target was just like a sitting duck. Carla was vulnerable, too hurt to really defend herself and she'd be perfect but he was trying as hard as he could to hold back. Carla was on edge, out of the corner of her eye she could see him pacing, she could see his fists scrunched tight and she felt her throat running dry as sheen of light sweat developed on her skin as her nerves started to play up.

Michelle was still stood outside the flat, she was determined and not about to give up on her friend. Carla meant so much to her, she was like a sister and she wasn't about to let some alcoholic bookie destroy her or even worse kill her through the abuse he was delivering. She pulled out her mobile from her pocket and scrolled through the phone book for Carla's name, she would call her until she answered. Pressing the call button she held the handset to her ear and listened as it connected and started to ring.

The sudden ringing of Carla's phone broke the silence in the flat and both she and Peter looked at it ringing on the side, the vibrations making it move around on the counter. Carla looked to Peter and then back at the phone, he didn't look impressed. It stopped and Peter felt a little calmer but as quickly as it had stopped it started ringing all over again. Being the closest he made a grab for it and seeing Michelle's name lost his temper. In the fit of fury he threw the handset, which hit the wall, and with a thud landed on the floor where it fell silent.

"Why is she calling?" vented Peter through gritted teeth.

Carla shook her head as some sort of response, she didn't know, surely Peter knew this wasn't her fault she had told Michelle to go and backed him up. Peter however saw it very differently, Michelle would only be calling her if Carla had really given her cause for concern. She must have said something, told Michelle what was really going on, why else would she and Rob be interfering like they were.

"What have you said to her?" Shouted Peter glaring at Carla, his eyes looking as though they were about to pop from their sockets.

"Nothing" mumbled Carla in weak and broken voice.

"I don't believe you" he answered coldly as he approached her.

"I swear I've not told her anything" she squeaked trying to defend herself as he hovered over her. She was terrified now, he had that menacing glint in his eyes, what was he going to do. She almost couldn't breathe as the intensity between them grew. Uncertainty was definitely what she was feeling. In the next second Peter reached for her and grabbed a fistful of her hair, which remained clenched in his fist as he pulled her to her feet.

The phone upon the floor sprang back to life and started ringing yet again, it was just enough to tip him over the edge. Peter dragged her across the room, yelling and screaming the whole time that it was her fault everything was her fault. He slammed her into the wall where she screamed, the pain radiating through her body like nothing she'd ever felt before. He threw her head back as he let go, ripping some of the hair he held from its roots. His hand moved grabbing her neck and crushing her windpipe as with an almost in human strength he held her up against the wall. Carla was choking as he held her there, desperately begging him to let her go. After a few more seconds Peter let her go and she slumped down and against the wall in an almost crouched position. Carla thought that might be it, all had gone silent again and then again the phone started ringing away. Peter made a grab for it, snatching it up from the floor and scowling at the screen where it said Michelle's name. Pressing the button he answered the call and placed the phone down on the dining table behind them.

"Carla? Car...you there Carla?" rang out Michelle's voice as Peter pressed the loudspeaker option.

There was something very twisted about whatever Peter was planning and the thoughts running through his head had become malicious. If Michelle couldn't take a hint to leave them alone then he would enlighten her as to the consequences it bought. Almost sat now on the floor Carla wanted to answer Michelle as she continued to call her name through the handset but Peter hovered over her, a smirk on his face and his finger pressed to her lips.

"Carla? Talk to me, are you ok?" came Michelle's voice loud and clear.

"She's fine" yelled back Peter in response.

"Peter, let me speak to Carla" ordered Michelle trying to assert her authority.

"She's fine trust me" he answered with a chuckle. Then he raised his fist, it came into contact with Carla's ribs and smacked her hard. She screamed in pain and then felt Peter once again grab her hair and drag her rather roughly over to the dining table. Michelle heard the scream and instantly started shouting down the phone, warning Peter not to hurt her or she'd call the police. But Peter just ignored her warning and he pushed Carla into the dining table.

"Tell her your ok" ordered Peter in the sweetest voice he could to Carla.

"I'm fine" whimpered Carla down the phone to Michelle.

With that Peter disconnected the call. Grabbing Carla by the arm he pulled her up and threw her back into the wall. He stood over her his chest heaving, puffing in and out erratically. His first thought was to give her another beating, just to teach her a lesson but he was exhausted. His own body aching with pain and his head beginning to throb again at his wound. Peter walked away, flopping down on the sofa and searching for the remote where he clicked on the television.

He was enjoying the peace until Carla's mobile started ringing again. Peter turned round to look at it growling and then made eye contact with Carla who had also noticed. She suddenly felt brave, moving as quickly as she could and surprising Peter she started to crawl to the table. No way was he going to allow this to get out of his control, he bolted up from the sofa and hurried round reaching the table just as Carla did. His foot slammed down on her hand on the floor, crushing it as he forced his weight down on her and casually reached for the phone. Carla gritted her teeth before screaming out in pain as Peter just stood there. Then he dropped the phone down in front of her and raised his foot releasing her hand. Carla grabbed for it and as she did Peter's foot came crashing back down trapping her fingers as he ground his foot into the phone and she heard the screen crack.