Page 397 of Savage Bosses

“Rumors? Oh, honey, I think you know this is more than just idle gossip. Why would I waste my time telling you this if it was just a rumor?” Melinda smirked, taking a leisurely sip of her chai latte. “We both know what Bryce is capable of, considering he’s a Cattaneo and all.”

Shit. This wasn’t about cheating.

“We both know his family has shed enough blood to…”

“Enough, Melinda!” Tatianna’s eyes flashed with anger as she slammed the menu down on the table. “I don’t want to discuss this with you.”

“Of course, you don’t,” Melinda purred, her lips curling into a sly smile. “But the truth has a nasty habit of coming out eventually.”

Tatianna clenched her fists beneath the table. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to lunge across the table and wipe that arrogant smile off Melinda’s pampered face, but she forced herself to remain seated.

“What the hell are you talking about, Melinda?”

“You should know, Tati.”

“I don’t know.”

Melinda leaned back in her chair, a smug expression on her face. “Hmm. You really don’t know, do you? Well, I’ll tell you. Bryce had my brother look into your attacker.”

“And?”

“And let’s just say, the info the news shared isn’t the truth.”

Tatianna swallowed hard, her throat constricting as Melinda’s words sank in.

“Just spit it out, Melinda.”

“Ugh,” Melinda groaned. “You’re really going to make me say it?”

“Yes. And hurry the fuck up.”

Melinda smiled cruelly. “Matthew said that Mr. Cattaneo got one of his clients, who owed him so much money that he could never pay him back, to lie and say that he killed Marco Rossi. In return, Mr. Cattaneo wouldn’t kill the man’s parents. The man agreed. He lied and said he killed Marco to cover up for Bryce.”

“What?” Tatianna whispered. Ice coursed through her veins. Her pulse quickened, and beads of sweat formed on her brow. “Is that true?” Tatianna whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “Did Bryce really kill Marco?”

“According to my brother, yes,” Melinda replied before taking a sip of her latte. “But that’s what happens in their world. Isn’t it? Violence, betrayal, death...”

Melinda’s words were drowned out by the ringing in Tatianna’s ears. She felt her stomach churn as the weight of this revelation settled heavily on her shoulders and her heart. Bryce had killed someone. And he’d done it for her. Bryce had killed Marco for her.

No wonder he was being distant. He was probably hurting, hating himself, thinking he’d finally become the monster he’d tried so desperately not to become. And it was all her fault. Instead of protecting him, she’d caused him to become the one thing he’d fought so long not to become.Fuck!

“Did you hear me?” Melinda asked.

Tati wasn’t paying Melinda any damn attention. She needed to call Bryce. She needed to… apologize? No, an apology wasn’t enough. What should she do?

“Now that you know the truth, can you really stay with him, knowing you’re the reason he broke his code?”

Tears spilled down Tatianna’s cheeks.

“Think about it, Tatianna,” Melinda urged, voice dripping with false concern. “He’s a killer now,” she whispered. “Because of you. How can you say you love him when you’re now the reason he’s broken?”

“Enough, Melinda!” Tatianna snapped, her emotions boiling over. “This is my decision, not yours. And this is between me and Bryce. From now on, stay the fuck out of our business.” Tatianna stood up.

“Tatianna!” Melinda called after her. “He’ll never be the same again. And it’s your fault.”

Tatianna stormed out of the coffee shop with tears spilling down her cheeks. She didn’t even remember the drive home. It was all a blur. When she made it home, she spent an hour pacing the floor of her home, her heart pounding in her chest as her mind replayed her conversation with Melinda.

Bryce had killed someone. And it was all her fault. He’d done it for her. He’d seen her spiraling, seen how afraid she was, so he’d rid the world of Marco. He’d become what he hated the most because of her. Did he hate her now? Did he regret coming to pick her up that night? Would it have been better if Marco kidnapped her before Bryce arrived?

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