BOUND TO THE BOSS

Chapter 16: The Night Attack

The sun set. Darkness covered the mansion.

Elena stood by the window, watching the driveway. Dante stood beside her. His gun was holstered. His eyes were scanning the shadows.

"Men are in position," he said. "Front and back. Enzo can't get in without a fight."

"And if he brings an army?"

"Then we have a bigger fight."

Elena touched the gun at her hip. She had never fired at a person before. She hoped she wouldn't have to.

But she was ready.

---

At 9 PM, the first shot rang out.

Elena flinched. Dante grabbed her arm.

"Stay behind me."

"I can fight."

"I know. But let my men handle the first wave."

They moved to the study. The windows were covered. The lights were off.

Dante spoke into his earpiece. "Report."

"Five men at the front gate. Three at the back. Enzo isn't with them."

"Find him."

"Yes, sir."

---

The shooting intensified.

Elena could hear shouts. Footsteps. Glass breaking.

Dante pulled out his gun. "Stay here."

"No."

"Elena—"

"I'm not hiding."

He stared at her for a second. Then nodded. "Stay close. Keep your gun up."

They moved into the hallway.

Two men in black masks burst through the front door.

Dante fired. One fell.

Elena raised her gun. Her hands were shaking.

The second man aimed at Dante. Elena fired.

The bullet hit his shoulder. He stumbled.

Dante finished him.

"Good shot," Dante said.

"My hands are shaking."

"Shaking is fine. Missing is not."

---

They moved to the back of the house.

More men. Dante's guards were fighting hand to hand.

A man charged at Elena. She fired. Missed.

He grabbed her arm. She kneed him in the groin. He doubled over. She fired again. Hit his chest.

He fell.

Elena stared at the body. Her hands were still shaking.

"Don't look," Dante said. "Keep moving."

She nodded. Followed.

---

The battle lasted an hour.

When it was over, eight of Enzo's men were dead. Two of Dante's guards were wounded. No one from the house was killed.

But Enzo was not there.

"He sent his men to test us," Dante said. "He's still hiding."

"How do we find him?"

"We wait. He'll make a mistake."

---

Elena sat on the couch. Her whole body was shaking.

Dante knelt in front of her.

"You did well tonight."

"I killed someone."

"He would have killed you."

"I know. But his face. I can't stop seeing it."

Dante pulled her close. "It gets easier. That's the worst part."

"I don't want it to get easier. I don't want to be like that."

"You're not like that. You defended yourself. There's a difference."

Elena buried her face in his chest.

---

At midnight, the house was quiet.

The bodies had been removed. The windows were boarded. The guards were on high alert.

Dante sat on the couch, his arm around Elena.

"Enzo won't try again tonight. He's lost too many men."

"Then we have time."

"Time to plan. Time to prepare."

Elena looked up at him. "Let's end this. Find him. Kill him."

"I will. But not tonight."

She nodded. She was too tired to argue.

---

They went to bed. Elena couldn't sleep.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the man she had killed. His face. His eyes. The way he fell.

"Elena." Dante's voice was soft.

"I'm okay."

"You're not. And that's okay."

She turned to face him. "How do you live with it?"

"I don't. I bury it. Deep. Where it can't hurt me."

"Is that healthy?"

"No. But it's survival."

---

In the morning, Elena woke to sunlight.

Dante was already dressed. On the phone.

"Any news?" she asked.

"Enzo went underground. No one knows where."

"So we wait."

"So we hunt."

He hung up. Walked to her.

"I'm sorry you had to kill someone."

"I'm sorry you've had to kill so many."

He kissed her forehead. "We're going to get through this."

"I know."

---

The next few days were tense.

Dante's men searched the city. No sign of Enzo.

"He's scared," Elena said.

"He's smart. Fear keeps you alive."

"Then let's use his fear against him."

"How?"

Elena thought. "Spread a rumor. That you're leaving the city. That you're vulnerable. He'll come out of hiding."

Dante considered. "That could work."

"It could also get you killed."

"Everything I do could get me killed."

---

The rumor was spread.

Dante was leaving. Taking Elena. Disappearing.

Within two days, Enzo surfaced.

He was at an old warehouse on the docks. Meeting with remaining allies.

"Tonight," Dante said. "We end this."

"I'm coming with you."

"No."

"Yes. I'm not hiding anymore."

Dante looked at her. "If you come, you follow my orders. Exactly."

"Fine."

"If I tell you to run, you run."

"I won't need to."

"Promise me."

Elena sighed. "I promise."

---

That night, they drove to the docks.

Dante's men surrounded the warehouse.

Elena stayed in the car. Watching.

Gunfire erupted.

She flinched but did not move.

Minutes later, Dante emerged. His shirt was bloody. His face was grim.

"Is it over?" she asked.

"Enzo is dead."

"Did you kill him?"

"He killed himself. Rather than face me."

Elena got out of the car. Walked to him.

"It's over."

"It's over."

She pulled him close.

The war was finished.

They had survived.

And now, they could finally live.