“Okay, that’s not very specific and doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.”
“You don’t need to worry, Addie.”
“Iamworried.”
When they reached the base of the cliff edge, every staff member was already there, setting up equipment for the climb. Rhett stood at the end, a bandage on his nose.
Colt looked up from the equipment box, only to frown. Yeah, Noah probably wore the rage on his face like a mask.
He was moving before he could stop himself.
“Noah—”
He heard Addie’s voice, but he didn’t stop. Rhett was all he saw.
Rhett had his back turned to Noah when he grabbed his arm and yanked him around.
“Hey, what are you—”
“Get your shit and get out,” Noah growled.
Rhett frowned. “What?”
“You heard me. Get. Out.Now.”
“Why would I…” His gaze shifted around Noah to Addie. Then he scowled. “What did she say?”
“She told me what happened.” A silence fell over the group.
“Yeah? Well, did she tell you she broke my fucking nose?”
Noah stepped closer, the extra few inches of height allowing him to tower over the guy. “She told me you grabbed her. That she asked you to release her, but you didn’t.”
There was a small gasp from someone. Cass maybe?
Rhett actually stepped closer. “I barely touched her—”
“Youbruisedher.”
“Bullshit.”
“I saw the marks. Get out before I lose the last scrap of self-restraint I have left and murder you.”
Rhett’s jaw clenched, and he glanced at Colt. “I’m your most experienced staff member. You’re really just gonna let him fire me?”
“We don’t assault people here,” Colt said, as he stepped beside Noah. “If you don’t leave, we’ll call the sheriff, who’ll get a report about what happened last night.”
“This isbullshit! I should have reportedherfor assault! You’re gonna pay for this.” He looked over at Addie. “Allof you.”
Everything was a mess.A complete and utter mess. She should have told Noah about Rhett when he’d gotten home last night. At least then he would have had the night to calm down, and this morning might not have turned out the way it had.
Yes, Rhett deserved to be fired, but she hated that every member of staff had seen. Well, not every member. Jules was sick.
Addieshould have told everyone she was sick.
She looked up at the wall. Had it gotten bigger in the last few minutes? Because it looked bigger. And to make matters worse,she’d been so preoccupied about everything that had happened with Rhett, she’d barely heard a word Noah or Colt said to the group. They probably hadn’t gone through all the how-to stuff anyway because everyone else could climb a freaking wall.
This was bad. Really bad.
