Better In Your Arms (Parisian Mafia 2#)

9

Chapter 9: The Final Confrontation

Amari’s breath caught in her throat as she locked eyes with Vincent Montemayor. His presence sent a cold shiver down her spine, and she instinctively moved closer to Alexander, her heart pounding with fear. Vincent stood there, blocking their path to the safe room, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” Vincent’s voice was smooth, laced with menace. His gaze flickered to Amari, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. “The precious jewel of the Stuarts, running through my family’s estate like a mouse caught in a trap.”

Alexander stepped forward, positioning himself between Amari and Vincent. His expression was hard, his hand inching toward his gun. “Let her go, Vincent. This is between our families, not her.”

Vincent chuckled darkly, taking a step closer. “Oh, Alexander, you always were the loyal one, weren’t you? Willing to die for a cause that isn’t yours.” He turned his attention back to Amari, his smile widening. “But the truth is, she is part of this. She’s the key, after all. The weakness Lawrence never expected to have.”

Amari felt a surge of anger rise within her. She had been dragged into this world against her will, but she refused to be anyone’s pawn. She straightened her spine, her voice firm. “I’m not anyone’s weakness.”

Vincent’s smile faltered slightly, but his amusement quickly returned. “Oh, brave words from someone who doesn’t understand the full scope of the game being played. But you will, soon enough.”

Before either Amari or Alexander could react, Vincent pulled out a gun, aiming it directly at them. The cold barrel gleamed under the dim lights, and for a moment, everything seemed to move in slow motion.

“Enough talk,” Vincent said, his voice deadly calm. “It’s time to end this.”

Just as Vincent was about to pull the trigger, a shot rang out from the shadows, echoing through the hall. Vincent staggered backward, a look of shock crossing his face as he clutched his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers.

Amari’s heart raced as she turned toward the source of the shot. There, standing at the far end of the corridor, was Lawrence. His expression was fierce, his gun still raised and aimed at Vincent.

“Step away from her, Vincent,” Lawrence growled, his voice dripping with fury. “You’ll regret the day you ever threatened her.”

Vincent gritted his teeth, the pain from his wound clearly visible, but his arrogance hadn’t diminished. “Lawrence Stuart, always the hero. But you should know by now that in this world, heroes don’t survive.”

Lawrence’s jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with rage. “Neither do villains.”

Without another word, Vincent aimed his gun at Lawrence, but Lawrence was faster. Another shot rang out, hitting Vincent square in the chest. The force of the impact sent him crashing to the ground, his gun clattering away.

Amari let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding as the tension in the room dissolved. Alexander moved quickly, checking Vincent to ensure he was down for good.

Lawrence strode toward Amari, his gaze softening as he reached her. His hand gently cupped her cheek, and for a moment, the chaos around them seemed to fade.

“Are you okay?” Lawrence asked, his voice low and filled with concern.

Amari nodded, her heart still racing from the encounter. “I’m fine, thanks to you.”

Lawrence’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked over her, as if he were checking to make sure she was really unharmed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you sooner.”

Amari shook her head, her hand resting on his chest. “You saved me. That’s all that matters.”

For a brief moment, they stood there, the weight of everything that had happened between them hanging in the air. Amari could see the guilt in Lawrence’s eyes, the fear that he had put her in harm’s way. But she wasn’t afraid anymore. She had chosen this life with him, knowing the risks, and she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“Let’s get out of here,” Lawrence said softly, wrapping an arm around her and leading her away from the carnage.

---

Once they reached the estate’s garden, the sounds of battle faded into the distance. Lawrence stopped, taking a deep breath as he turned to face Amari.

“I don’t want you involved in this anymore,” he said quietly, his tone laced with guilt. “I promised to protect you, but all I’ve done is drag you into more danger.”

Amari frowned, stepping closer to him. “Lawrence, I chose this. I chose to be with you, no matter what. You can’t keep pushing me away to protect me.”

He looked at her, conflicted. “This world will never be safe, Amari. As long as you’re with me, you’ll always be a target.”

“I don’t care about that,” Amari replied firmly, her eyes locking with his. “I care about you. I love you, Lawrence, and I’m not going to walk away just because things get dangerous.”

For a moment, Lawrence didn’t say anything, his emotions warring within him. But then he reached out, pulling her into his arms, holding her tightly as if afraid to let go.

“I love you too,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. “More than anything.”

Amari buried her face in his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her cheek. Despite the chaos, despite the violence and danger, this was where she belonged. With Lawrence. Always.

---

In the aftermath of the battle, Lawrence and Amari returned to the Stuart mansion. The damage done to the estate was extensive, but Lawrence’s men had managed to repel the Montemayors for now. It wasn’t a victory, but it was enough to buy them time.

As they stood in Lawrence’s office later that night, Amari couldn’t help but reflect on how far they’d come. The life she had known before meeting Lawrence seemed like a distant memory, and though this new life was filled with uncertainty, she felt stronger for having faced it with him.

“We’ll need to regroup,” Lawrence said, breaking the silence. “There’s more coming. Vincent was just the beginning.”

Amari nodded, her hand slipping into his. “We’ll face it together.”

Lawrence looked at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Together.”

As they stood there, the weight of their future pressing down on them, Amari knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them side by side.

And no matter what, they would find their way through the chaos, because love—true love—was always worth fighting for.

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