Better In Your Arms (Parisian Mafia 2#)

8

Chapter 8: A Test of Loyalty

Amari’s heart pounded as she moved silently through the dimly lit corridors of the estate. The echoes of gunfire and shouting reverberated off the walls, but all she could focus on was finding Lawrence. Every step felt heavier, her grip tightening on the vase she clutched for protection.

She knew this was reckless. Lawrence had told her to stay put, but the thought of sitting idly by while danger encroached on them was unbearable. She had to find him. She had to know he was safe.

As she approached the grand hall, the sound of gunfire grew louder. She could hear men shouting orders, but it was hard to make out what was happening. Slowly, Amari crept around the corner and peered into the hall.

The scene before her was chaos. Lawrence’s men were in a standoff with the intruders, a group of armed men she assumed were the Montemayors’ forces. Bullets flew across the room, shattering windows and splintering furniture. Lawrence stood at the center of it all, calm and in control, barking orders as he returned fire with precision.

He looked like a man born for battle.

For a moment, Amari froze, overwhelmed by the violence and the realization of just how dangerous Lawrence’s world really was. She had seen glimpses of it before, but this was different. This was war, and it was happening right in front of her.

Suddenly, a shadow moved in the corner of her vision. Before she could react, a hand clamped over her mouth, pulling her back into the shadows of the hallway.

Amari’s first instinct was to scream, but the strong grip on her held her still. Panic surged through her as she struggled to break free, but the person holding her whispered urgently in her ear.

"Don’t move. It’s me."

She froze, recognizing the voice immediately. Alexander. He released her just enough to allow her to turn around and face him, his eyes wide with urgency.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed, glancing over his shoulder toward the chaos in the hall. "I told you to stay hidden!"

"I—I couldn’t just sit there," Amari stammered, her voice shaky. "I needed to find Lawrence."

"You’re going to get yourself killed," Alexander muttered, his tone a mix of frustration and concern. "This is no place for you right now."

Amari shook her head, her resolve hardening. "I’m not leaving him. I need to be with him."

Alexander let out a sigh, glancing back toward the gunfire that raged in the next room. "You’ll only be a distraction to him, Amari. He’s focused on keeping you safe. If he sees you here, he’ll lose that focus."

Amari swallowed hard, knowing he was right but hating every word of it. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden to Lawrence, especially when his life was on the line. But standing by and doing nothing? That felt impossible.

"I can’t just sit and wait, Alexander," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I need to know he’s okay."

Alexander’s expression softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. "The best way you can help him right now is by staying alive. If anything happened to you, it would destroy him."

Amari opened her mouth to argue, but before she could respond, a loud explosion rocked the estate, sending a shockwave through the halls. She stumbled, but Alexander caught her, pulling her close as debris rained down from the ceiling.

"We need to move," he urged, his voice tight with urgency. "Now."

---

In the grand hall, Lawrence ducked behind a large column, his mind racing as he surveyed the battlefield. The Montemayors had come prepared, their numbers larger than expected. But Lawrence wasn’t backing down. His men fought valiantly, holding the line despite the relentless attack.

But something was wrong. In the chaos of the battle, Lawrence’s instincts were screaming at him. Something didn’t add up. The Montemayors were attacking, yes, but this felt like a distraction, a diversion meant to pull his attention away from something more dangerous.

*Amari.*

His blood ran cold as the realization hit him. This attack wasn’t just about taking him down—it was about her. They knew she was his weakness, the one thing that could break his resolve.

He couldn’t afford to lose focus now. Lawrence ducked out from behind the column, firing off a round of shots before retreating toward the back of the hall. He needed to find her, to make sure she was safe. But as he moved, one of his men, Marcus, intercepted him.

"Boss, they’ve breached the east wing!" Marcus shouted over the gunfire. "We’re being flanked!"

Lawrence cursed under his breath. The situation was spiraling out of control faster than he anticipated. He needed to make a choice—stay and defend the estate or go after Amari.

"I’ll handle it," Lawrence growled, pushing past Marcus and heading toward the east wing.

---

Amari and Alexander moved quickly through the estate, dodging debris and avoiding the main hall where the battle was fiercest. The tension between them was palpable, both of them acutely aware of the danger they were in.

As they reached a side corridor, Alexander paused, pulling Amari into a hidden alcove. "We’re getting close to the safe room," he said, his voice low. "Once we’re inside, we’ll be able to contact Lawrence."

Amari nodded, her heart racing. She didn’t like the idea of hiding while Lawrence fought, but she trusted Alexander to know what was best in this situation.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. Alexander stiffened, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun at his side.

"Stay here," he whispered to Amari, his eyes narrowing as he moved toward the source of the noise.

Amari held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched Alexander disappear around the corner. Moments later, the sound of gunfire erupted, followed by a loud crash. Amari’s stomach twisted with fear, but she stayed where she was, just as Alexander had told her.

Seconds felt like hours as she waited, her mind racing with thoughts of Lawrence, Alexander, and the unknown threat that lurked in the shadows.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the gunfire stopped. A tense silence followed, and Amari’s heart leapt into her throat as she waited for any sign of what had happened.

Finally, Alexander reappeared, his expression grim but determined. "It’s clear," he said, offering her a hand. "Let’s go."

Amari took his hand, her legs shaky as they continued toward the safe room. They were almost there—just a few more steps—and then they would be safe.

But before they could reach the door, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking their path.

It was Vincent Montemayor, his cold eyes gleaming with malice.

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