Page 452 of Savage Bosses

"Son of a bitch," she muttered under her breath, her eyes scanning the kitchen for anything she could use as a weapon.

Her gaze landed on a row of knives. In one fluid motion, Tati grabbed two knives and tensed her body, ready to strike. The kitchen door burst open, revealing a tall, white man with a black mask partially obscuring his face.

Without a second thought, she hurled a knife at him. It found its mark, lodging deep into his upper thigh. The man cried out in pain, blood gushing from the wound.

"I pierced your femoral artery. If you want to live, don't remove the knife," Tati warned, her voice ice-cold and deadly serious.

She gripped the other knife tightly. The would-be attacker hesitated, his eyes flicking between Tati and the blood pooling at his feet. His breathing was ragged. Sweat dripped from his brow as he weighed his options.

"Tick-tock," Tati taunted. "Your call. Your time's running out," she snapped. The man before her gritted his teeth, his face contorted with pain and anger. "Make your choice."

Defiance blazed in the man's eyes as he raised his own knife, seemingly intent on moving forward despite the pain. Tati’s grip tightened on her remaining knife as the attacker groaned in agony and foolishly decided to yank the blade from his leg.Idiot!

"Technically, I didn't kill you. You killed yourself," Tati sighed, watching blood pour onto the floor.

She couldn't help but think that Mrs. Cattaneo would be furious about the mess. The man dropped to the ground, defeated by his own actions. Tati stepped over him. and rushed back outside, still gripping the knife. The scene before her was chaotic: three men lay dead on the ground while Taro battled with two others.

"Get away from him!" Tati shouted, rushing to assist Taro.

Just then, a car pulled up in front of her, blocking her view. Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized it as Bryceson's car. She'd never been happier to see him. Tati sprinted toward the driver's side.

"Help Taro," Tati pleaded as Bryce emerged from the car.

Bryce's frown deepened, his eyes fixed on hers. But instead of going to Taro's aid, he approached her and swiftly grabbed her arm. For a moment, she didn't resist, thinking he was just checking on her.

But as he placed a cloth over her mouth and nose, panic surged through her veins. The scent of chemicals filled her nostrils, and she knew in an instant that he wasn't checking to see if she was okay.

"Wha—?"

The cloth muffled her words, but she fought back, kicking and clawing at Bryce as he forced her into the back seat of his car. She could hear Taro shouting her name, but his voice grew fainter as her strength waned. Why? She thought, her mind racing.Why would Bryce kidnap me?

Was he working for the Farrinas? Her limbs grew heavier, and she struggled to keep her eyes open. As the darkness closed in around her, Tati couldn't help but feel betrayed. The man she'd once loved was now her captor, and she couldn't fathom why. That was her last thought before darkness claimed her.

Chapter Twelve

Tatianna

T

ati's eyes fluttered open, her vision hazy and unfocused. Her head pounded with a dull ache that seemed to echo through every bone in her body. She lay on a bed draped in black sheets, the fabric soft and cool beneath her fingertips as she gripped the comforter.

A wave of dizziness washed over her as she sat up slightly, pulling back the covers. She blinked down at herself, her chest tightening when she saw the black lace lingerie clinging to her curves, sheer enough to leave little to the imagination.

The door to the bedroom opened, and she laid back down, pulling the cover over her and pretending to be asleep. Tati's heart pounded as the footsteps drew closer. As they grew nearer, she recalled the events that occurred before she'd fallen asleep.

She remembered the Farrina Event. She remembered taking the equipment back to the cafe. Oh, and then they were attacked. Oh no, she’d left a bleeding man in Mrs. Cattaneo's café’s kitchen. First day as manager, and she’d stabbed someone.Damn it.

Then she remembered Taro fighting outside and Bryce pulling up. Oh, right, she remembered that Bryce drugged and kidnapped her.That motherfucker!Tati's entire body tensed when he reached the bed.

Then, there was a dip in the mattress right next to her. She held her breath, waiting to see what he would do next. She figured she'd finally pushed him too far, and he was ready for his revenge. Well, he'd chosen a bad time because she hadn't gotten her revenge yet.

Or... was he on Melinda's side? Her body jerked involuntarily when she felt his hand against her cheek.Damn it, she thought, cursing herself for giving away her ruse. Her breath hitched, and she abruptly sat up, knocking his hand away.

"Get your hands off me!" she spat, anger flaring in her eyes.

"Feisty, aren't we?" Bryce replied, smirking. "I knew you weren’t sleeping. You always were a terrible actress, Tati."

She clenched her fists, resisting the urge to lunge at him. Instead, she focused on keeping her voice steady.

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