Page 447 of Savage Bosses

“That’s what it is,” Taro said, leaning back in his seat. “You’re worried about what he’s going to think of you. Don’t worry. You don’t have to bear the guilt of this. Your mother hired me. And she’s already ordered me to do what I think is best. They’ll be dead within the week.”

Tati inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, her mind repeating his words over and over in her head.

“The mother, Mrs. Farrina, and the son, Matthew, are innocent.”

“I’ll investigate the entire family before I kill anyone. If the mother and son are really innocent, I’ll let them live. If they were in on this also, they will die too. I’ll make it look like an accident. The whole family went for a drive. The dad took some meds he shouldn’t have and drove the family off the bridge. Or maybe I’ll make it look like a murder-suicide. I’ll learn more about their family situation before I decide. No matter what I do, it won’t fall back on you or Bryce. It’ll be up to you whether you tell him you were involved or not. Deal, Little Bird?”

Tati stared down at her food, which was getting cold.

“Deal,” she whispered.

She was such a hypocrite. Such a two-faced person. Such a monster. A monster who didn’t deserve Bryce. She jumped when Taro tapped his fork against his plate.

“Stop,” he ordered. “Stop looking guilty. Guilt should fall on the people who started it, not the ones who finished it. Now, eat. Your mom said I had to take you to a hair appointment this morning. I’ve mentally prepared myself to endure this torture coming my way. I know I’m going to have to sit there for hours.” He sighed.

Tati smiled. “Thanks for coming, Taro.”

“If I hadn’t come, my dad and grandad would’ve killed me. You know it was my granddad who trained your mom to ki…”

“Hush!” Tati yelled. “I don’t want to hear it.”

Taro chuckled as they both resumed eating their food. She knew her mom had a dark past. Tati had tried to escape having one of her own. But it seemed fate had different plans for her. And if she was honest with herself, now that she was no longer running from the darkness, she felt free.

No monster liked being caged up.

Chapter Eleven

Bryceson

T

he Farrina brunch event would be starting soon. As Bryce strode through the garden of the Farrina estates, his thoughts drifted to the two men he’d killed last night - the two security workers Mr. Farrina hired to kill Tatianna. So far, Mr. Farrina was keeping his distance from Bryceson.

Since the moment Bryce arrived at the estate this morning, Mr. Farrina had been avoiding him. Bryce had seen the man see him. As soon as their eyes connected, Farrina headed in the other direction. He didn’t know if the man was still angry with him for the things Bryce had said during the marriage meeting with Farrina and his dad.

Or if Farrina knew that Bryce had killed his hitmen. No matter what, Bryce was determined to talk to the older man today. But he was okay with waiting. Waiting made his prey more antsy, more prone to mistakes.

As for the predator, there was nothing like the hunt. And right now, Bryce was circling his prey, making eye contact every chance he got. For now, he didn’t suspect Farrina to try anything so soon after his first failure.

First, the bastard would wait to see who’d taken out his men. Until then, he’d lay low for a bit. Bryce stared around him as the staff from the cafe began showing up to get the outdoor and indoor part of the event set up.

Bryce had come to the garden, thinking Tati would be there. He wanted to see if she’d purchased new pants like he’d ordered her to. She was too sexy to wear khakis, especially the ones as form-fitting as what she’d been wearing. They left nothing to the imagination.

They clung to her thighs and ass like a glove. He’d seen Danny checking her out a few times. After his conversation with the employee, Danny now closed his eyes when Tati entered a room he was in.

The other staff were wondering what was wrong with Danny since he kept running into stuff. As for protecting Tati, Bryce was still trying to come up with an excuse for why she had to move in with him for a while.

He could just order her to, saying he wanted her to practice cooking more, and he’d be her tester. No, she wouldn’t fall for that. He could tell her he missed her and wanted her back in his life. Bryce sighed. She didn’t deserve the satisfaction of knowing he still thought of her that way. What could his excuse be?

"Bryce!" his mother's voice rang out, cutting through his thoughts.

He turned in her direction and saw her beaming face approaching him. He smiled back. Then his gaze drifted to the woman walking beside his mother. That woman was clad in a purple dress that hugged her curves like a lover.

Her dark, silky hair dropped past her shoulders and drew his gaze to her breasts, which were on display. Anger flared through him as his gaze met Tati's. Her smile only enraged him further.

She hadn't just done the exact opposite of what he'd told her regarding the dress code, this little motherfucker had gone ten steps beyond his order. Gritting his teeth, he watched his mother and Tati approach him.

His mother greeted him with a hug. He hugged her back while glaring over her head at Tati, who winked at him. It was obvious that she’d done this to enrage him. Tati greeted him after his mother released him.

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