Page 106 of No Holds Barred

But Josef didn’t back up, his face still pressed close to Angelica’s.

“Josef, step back immediately.” Logan scolded again, sharply.

Angelica held her breath, clenching her jaw as she just waited to see what Josef would do. It took longer than she would have liked, but eventually, Josef pulled away slowly. He looked over his shoulder to Logan, who stood only five feet away with a glower on his face.

“Something had to be said about her behavior.” Josef straightened his clothes as if he’d just gotten out of a brawl.

Logan flicked a look to Angelica but then focused squarely on Josef. “No, it didn’t. Your behavior, however, is a different thing entirely.”

“I’ve done nothing wrong.” Josef put his hands down to his sides.

Angelica moved away from the wall slightly, righting herself as she looked at both men, debating on what to do or not do in this case. The last thing she wanted was to add fuel to the fire, but she wasn’t going to play victim either.

“How can you tell me you’ve done nothing wrong when you’ve had Ange pushed up against a wall while you threaten her?” Logan lowered his voice into a threat, stepping closer and putting himself fully into the situation. “I’ve watched you for half a week, Josef, and all I can see is that you’re the problem on this set. Not Ange. Not Hope. Not Rex. Not anyone else. You.”

“You’re seeing things.”

Angelica’s lips parted in surprise. Here Logan was tearing Josef down step-by-step, and all Josef could do was deny it and pretend Logan hadn’t seen anything? Jesus, this man was a menace.

“No, Josef, I’m not.” Logan looked directly at Angelica before nodding at her. “Your behavior is obnoxious.”

“She’s fucking Hope.”

“So what?” Logan shook his head at Josef, hands out at his sides. “You think even if she is that gives you the right to treat her like this? To act like she’s ruining this show? From what I’ve seen, Angelica is one of the few people holding this entire production together no matter how many times you try to tear it apart. You can either shut up and walk away now, Josef, or I’m going to forcibly remove you from this hotel.”

“Forcibly?” Josef repeated the word.

“Yes.” Logan clenched his jaw.

Angelica’s heart raced. Was this actually happening?

“Before you decide to respond to that,” Logan started before anyone else said anything, “I suggest you take a minute to step back and think about what I just walked in on. A large man pushing a beautiful and still-injured woman against the wall on the way to the restroom and making threats against her. It doesn’t look good for you no matter what way you spin it.”

Josef tossed a look back at Angelica, scowling. The tension thickened. Josef turned to stare at Logan before shaking his head. “You’ll both pay for this.”

He stomped away.

Angelica released a breath she hadn’t known she was holding, her fingers unwinding from the fists she’d clenched, and her shoulders easing just slightly.

“Ange…” Logan took another step closer. “Are you okay?”

What the hell was she supposed to say to that? Angelica shook her head, her heart still racing so hard that she wasn’t sure it’d calm down any time soon.

“No,” Angelica replied honestly, overwhelmed by the emotions rushing through, the threat that wasn’t quite extinguished, and the fact that for once, she wasn’t standing here alone. “No, I’m not.”

“Then take the rest of the day.” Logan brushed his hand up and down her upper arm. “Please.”

Angelica nodded at him and started to move down the hallway toward the lobby. As soon as she entered the large room, she stilled. Josef stood by the reception desk, anger written all over his face. She said nothing as she walked to the elevator and hit the button.

Once she was in her room, she pressed her fingers to her mouth and drew in a breath of safety. Each and every day they’d been on set this season, Josef had only gotten worse, as if he’d been pushed to the brink of what he could control and just couldn’t stop himself. She wasn’t sure what she would have done had Logan not stepped in. And too many times in the last two weeks, something like that had happened. What if she was genuinely alone with Josef? She wasn’t sure how far he’d take it.

The knock on the door jarred her.

Angelica bit her lip and turned around quietly. She didn’t want anyone to know she was in there unless it was someone she trusted. Pushing her face against the door to look out of the peephole, she sighed in relief. Taking one more second to compose herself, Angelica opened the door.

“Lyric.”

“Ms. Shields.” Lyric stood there quietly. “Logan said you were done filming for the day. I thought I’d check to see if you needed something.”