Better In Your Arms (Parisian Mafia 2#)

5

Chapter 5: Secrets in the Dark

The night Amari kissed Lawrence marked the beginning of something neither of them could escape. It was as though that moment broke down the walls they'd both built—walls made of fear, danger, and uncertainty. But even as passion between them grew, the world outside seemed to close in, more dangerous than ever.

The morning after, Amari woke up tangled in her sheets, Lawrence beside her. The room was quiet, except for the faint sounds of the Paris streets below. She turned to him, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. His face, relaxed in sleep, was a stark contrast to the fierce, composed man he was during the day.

Amari's heart ached. She had allowed herself to be drawn into his life, but at what cost? She knew things were going to get more complicated, not less. And part of her was terrified that one day she’d wake up and Lawrence would be gone—claimed by the dangers of his mafia world.

She carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake him. As she dressed, her phone buzzed with a message from the café. The distraction was almost a relief. A sense of normalcy amidst the whirlwind that had become her life.

"I need to go," she whispered to herself, glancing at Lawrence one last time before leaving the apartment.

---

When she arrived at the café, the familiar smells of fresh coffee and pastries greeted her, offering comfort. But no matter how hard she tried to focus on work, Lawrence occupied her thoughts. Her phone buzzed again, and this time, it was a message from him.

**Lawrence**: We need to talk tonight. I’ll pick you up after work.

Her heart raced. She didn’t know what more there was to talk about. They’d crossed a line last night that was impossible to undo. Still, the uncertainty gnawed at her.

---

That evening, as promised, Lawrence was waiting outside the café in his car. Amari couldn’t ignore the flutter in her chest when she saw him, but there was also a gnawing feeling of dread.

The drive was silent, tension heavy in the air. Lawrence seemed lost in thought, his grip on the steering wheel tight. They arrived at his penthouse, and Lawrence led her inside without saying a word.

Once they were inside, he finally spoke, his tone serious. "There are things you need to know, Amari. Things about me, about my family... I can’t keep them from you anymore."

Amari’s stomach twisted with anxiety. "What kind of things?"

Lawrence sat down on the edge of the couch, running a hand through his hair. "You know the basics—that I’m the heir to the Stuart family, one of the biggest mafia clans in Paris. But what you don’t know is that our enemies are closer than ever. The Montemayors… they’re planning something, and I’m at the center of it."

Amari frowned, sitting beside him. "What do you mean?"

"They want to eliminate me," Lawrence said, his voice cold. "And they’ll use anyone close to me to do it."

Her breath caught in her throat. "Me?"

Lawrence’s jaw clenched, and he nodded. "That’s why I need you to be careful. I’ve already assigned someone to keep an eye on you, but things could get worse. I don’t want you caught in the crossfire."

Amari’s heart pounded in her chest. She had been living in a bubble, pretending that her life could stay normal despite Lawrence’s world. But hearing the raw truth from him shattered that illusion. She was in danger—real danger—and there was no going back.

"What should I do?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I don’t know if staying away from me will help," Lawrence admitted, his eyes dark. "The Montemayors already know about you. That’s why I can’t leave you unprotected."

Amari’s pulse quickened. "Then what are you saying? That we’re stuck in this?"

Lawrence looked at her, his eyes filled with an emotion she couldn’t quite place. "I’m saying I’ll protect you with everything I have. But I need you to trust me, Amari. This won’t be easy. If you want out—if you want to walk away—I’ll understand."

Walk away? The thought should have filled her with relief, but instead, it terrified her. Walking away meant leaving Lawrence behind. It meant cutting ties with the man who had somehow become the center of her world in such a short time.

"I don’t want to walk away," Amari whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lawrence let out a breath he seemed to have been holding. "Then we face this together."

---

The days that followed were a blur of secrecy and heightened tension. Lawrence made sure Amari was always protected, but she could feel the weight of her decision pressing down on her. Being with Lawrence wasn’t just a relationship—it was a commitment to a dangerous, unpredictable life.

One night, Amari sat in Lawrence’s living room, flipping through the pages of a book she couldn’t focus on. The news had been on in the background, reporting the latest unrest between the Stuart and Montemayor families.

She turned to Lawrence, who had just come in from a meeting. He looked exhausted, but there was a fire in his eyes—one that hadn’t dimmed despite the constant threats.

"You don’t have to stay here," he said, his voice gentle. "You could go somewhere safer for a while."

Amari shook her head. "I’m not running. Not from this, not from you."

Lawrence studied her, his expression unreadable. "You’re braver than I am."

Before she could respond, there was a sudden knock on the door. Lawrence immediately stiffened, his hand moving instinctively to the gun at his side.

"Stay here," he ordered, moving toward the door.

Amari’s heart raced as she watched him approach. The knock came again, louder this time, and Lawrence opened the door cautiously.

To her surprise, a familiar face stepped into the room. It was Alexander, one of Lawrence’s trusted men.

"We have a problem," Alexander said, his voice low and urgent. "The Montemayors are moving tonight. We got word that they’re coming for you."

Lawrence’s expression darkened, his gaze shifting to Amari for a brief second before focusing back on Alexander. "How many?"

"Enough to make it serious," Alexander replied. "We’ve already reinforced security, but I don’t know if it’ll be enough."

Amari felt a chill run down her spine. She had known the danger was real, but hearing it spoken so plainly made it all the more terrifying.

Lawrence turned to her, his face hard. "You’re coming with me. We’re leaving now."

Amari’s pulse quickened. "Where?"

"Somewhere safe," Lawrence said, grabbing his coat. "But we need to move fast."

---

As they sped through the streets of Paris, Lawrence’s jaw was set in determination. Amari could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken words that lingered between them. She wasn’t sure where they were going, but she trusted Lawrence to keep her safe.

But even as they fled, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The Montemayors wouldn’t stop until they had what they wanted. And now, more than ever, Amari was a part of that dangerous game.

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