1. **State the problem:** Calculate $(-8) - 2$. 2. **Understand the operation:** Subtracting 2 from -8 means moving 2 units to the left on the number line starting from -8. 3. **Perform the subtraction:** $$(-8) - 2 = -8 + (-2)$$ 4. **Add the negative numbers:** $$-8 + (-2) = -(8 + 2) = -10$$ 5. **Final answer:** $$\boxed{-10}$$ So, $(-8) - 2 = -10$.