Chapter 8 - Mirrors

The distant whir of sirens pierced the silence that followed the chaos. Red and blue lights painted the walls of the Black Orchid as the police arrived at the scene, armed and alert.

But when they stepped inside, they found nothing.

No bodies. No blood. No bullet casings.

Just music humming softly in the background, a polished dance floor, and a few members chatting and sipping wine.

Captain Reynolds stepped forward, eyeing the clubhouse. Matteo met him at the entrance with a charming grin and arms outstretched.

“Captain,” Matteo greeted smoothly, “what a surprise.”

“We received an anonymous call about gunfire and explosions coming from this location,” Captain Reynolds said, eyes scanning the room.

“Gunfire?” Lorenzo appeared beside Matteo, dressed in a tailored black suit without a single wrinkle. Not a strand of his hair was out of place. “You must have received information about the wrong place, Captain. We’ve just been celebrating.”

“Celebrating what?” Reynolds asked, unimpressed.

“Our newest family member,” Lorenzo replied with a calm smile, nodding toward Elena in the distance.

Isabella stood beside her, whispering something that made Elena laugh, a bit loud.

Captain Reynolds narrowed his eyes. “Then how do you explain the explosion over there? That wall looks like it took a direct hit.”

“Oh, that,” Lorenzo said smoothly, brushing invisible lint off his sleeve. “We were setting off some fireworks. It got a little out of hand. Maybe that’s what your caller heard.”

“Fireworks?” Reynolds echoed, his voice laced with doubt as his gaze locked onto Lorenzo’s.

“Yes, Captain. Like I said, we’re celebrating a new addition to the family. A special night,” Lorenzo said, his tone even, unwavering.

The two men stood silently, eyes locked in a quiet battle of will. The air between them grew heavy with unspoken truths and long-buried grudges.

“We’ll need to conduct a thorough search of the premises,” Reynolds finally said, breaking the silence.

Matteo stepped forward, blocking Reynolds’ path with deliberate calm. “Do you have a warrant for that?”

“Stand down, Matteo,” Lorenzo said without looking at him. His voice was silk but carried steel beneath it.

Then he turned back to the captain with a practiced smile and stepped aside. “Of course, Captain. Take your time.”

Reynolds didn’t smile back. “We will.”

As the officers began moving through the club, Matteo leaned toward Lorenzo and muttered, “One of these days, we’re going to have to shut that snake up permanently.”

Lorenzo didn’t respond. His eyes were already drifting across the room—toward Elena.

Because while the Captain searched for evidence, Lorenzo was hunting something else entirely.

He had felt it—that pull, that heat—the moment he had thrown himself over her to shield her from the bullet.

There was something about her that attracted him, he had noticed this the first day he had set his eyes on her.

Elena wasn’t the most beautiful woman he had ever seen she was far from it. He had dated supermodels, heiresses, and women who turned heads in every room. But none of them made his blood burn the way Elena did.

There was something about her. A storm beneath her skin. A fire in her eyes that called to him—untamed, dangerous, magnetic.

She looked soft on the outside but possessed a dangerous aura.

“Elena shot someone during the fight,” Lorenzo said quietly, his gaze still locked on her from across the room.

Matteo turned to him, brows raised. “How? I thought she didn’t even know how to handle a gun?”

“That’s what she claimed,” Lorenzo murmured. “ She said Isabella showed her the basics during the chaos. But the way she pulled that trigger… the angle, the timing, the precision—” He paused, jaw tightening. “She’s a trained shooter because that was a kill shot.”

Matteo cursed under his breath. “So the bitch lied to us.” His fist clenched. “She’s playing us.”

Before Lorenzo could reply, Captain Reynolds returned, his brows furrowed in frustration.

“We didn’t find anything unusual,” he said, his eyes sweeping the room once more as if daring something to jump out.

Lorenzo let out a slow, knowing smirk. “Of course you will not, Captain. Now, if you’ll excuse me—I have more pressing matters to attend to.”

He turned and walked away, his suit brushing against Captain Reynolds as he passed.

The Captain stood there, jaw ticking, rage simmering just beneath the surface.

“Looking for the exit, Captain?” Matteo said with a mocking grin.

Captain Reynolds didn’t bother replying. He shot one last glare around the room, then stormed out with his men in tow.

Matteo turned around the moment Captain Reynolds and his men disappeared through the club doors.

Without wasting a second, he made his way toward Elena, who was mid-conversation with Marco.

“How did this place get cleaned up so fast?” Elena asked, casting a glance around the spotless lounge.

“Lorenzo knew the cops would show,” Marco replied with a smirk. “He bought us time while the fight was still raging outside. That’s why they didn’t show up until it was all over.”

Isabella joined them, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “My brother always has a plan. That’s why the police haven’t been able to pin anything on him for years. They’ll never find proof, no matter how many times they come knocking.”

Elena raised her brows, nodding her head. “Eso es increíble(That’s incredible)” she murmured.

Matteo cleared his throat to announce his presence.

He stood behind Elena, arms crossed, his stern gaze locking onto her like a hawk.

“Elena,” Matteo said, his voice low and edgy. “Come with me. We’ve got a mission.”

Isabella arched a brow and folded her arms. “A mission? Seriously?”

Matteo didn’t flinch. “You know there’s a reason why we were attacked tonight, don’t you?”

“And you need Elena for that?” Isabella snapped. “She’s new, Matteo. The girl nearly got a bullet in her head if Lorenzo hadn’t jumped in.”

Matteo let out a cold chuckle. “Really? That’s not the story I heard. Word is our little escort here dropped a man with a clean, deadly shot.” He smirked as he looked Elena up and down with unsettling amusement.

“That’s not how it happened,” Isabella fired back. “I showed her how to use the gun briefly and the guy charged. She reacted. Lucky reflex, not skill.”

Matteo shrugged. “Whatever. She’s coming with me. End of story.”

“Then I’m coming too,” Isabella said, stepping forward.

“No, you’re not,” Matteo replied, his tone turning sharp.

“And why the hell not?” she demanded.

He closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, eyes boring into hers. “You questioning my orders now?”

Before things could explode, Elena stepped between them and gently placed a hand on Isabella’s arm.

“Isabella,” she said calmly, “it’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t have to go with him,” Isabella insisted, her voice tight with concern. “You’re new here. You’re not ready for this.”

“I’ll go,” Elena repeated firmly, her jaw set. “I will be fine.”

Elena’s gaze met with Matteo’s as he stepped away from Isabella and one thing echoed in her mind as she stared at him.

This is either a test… or a trap.