Better In Your Arms (Parisian Mafia 2#)

13

Chapter 13: Shadows of the Past

The dawn light filtered through the curtains as Amari woke, her body still entangled with Lawrence’s. The brief moment of peace they had shared last night lingered in the room, but Amari knew it would soon be disrupted. Today was critical—Felipe’s plan was in motion, and the Montemayors would soon learn of their move.

She gently pulled herself out of Lawrence’s embrace, careful not to wake him. Her mind was already racing with the details of the day ahead, but as she stood at the window, looking out over the sprawling estate, something felt… off. The air was thick with tension, an unease she couldn’t shake.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Alexander stood in the hallway, his face grim.

“We need to talk,” he said, his tone clipped.

Amari glanced back at Lawrence, still asleep, before stepping outside and closing the door behind her. “What is it?”

Alexander ran a hand through his hair, his usual composure faltering. “There’s been a leak. Someone inside the Stuart family is feeding information to the Montemayors.”

Amari’s blood ran cold. “Are you sure?”

Alexander nodded. “Felipe just called. He said the Montemayors are already moving to counter our plan. They know about the deal.”

Amari’s mind whirled. “How? Who could—”

“I don’t know,” Alexander cut in, his voice low. “But we need to act fast. If they get ahead of us, we could lose everything.”

Amari’s chest tightened. Betrayal from within was the last thing they had expected, and now they were facing a threat far closer to home than they’d imagined.

“What do we do?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alexander’s eyes darkened. “We find out who the traitor is, and we stop them—before it’s too late.”

---

By midday, the estate was abuzz with activity. Lawrence, now fully aware of the leak, had gathered his most trusted men to strategize their next steps. But even among them, suspicion hung heavy in the air. Every glance felt like a silent accusation, every conversation laced with doubt.

Amari stood at the edge of the room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She had never seen Lawrence like this—so on edge, so uncertain. He was always the one in control, the one who saw the path forward. But now, with the possibility of betrayal looming over them, even he seemed unsure of where to turn.

As the meeting continued, Amari caught sight of a familiar figure in the corner—Gabriel, Lawrence’s cousin and one of his closest advisors. He was quiet, more so than usual, his eyes flickering nervously whenever Lawrence mentioned the leak.

A strange feeling settled over Amari, one she couldn’t ignore. She watched Gabriel closely, noting how he avoided making eye contact, how his hands fidgeted in his lap. Could it be him? Could Gabriel, someone Lawrence trusted like a brother, be the one betraying them?

Before she could dwell on it further, Lawrence called for a break. The room slowly emptied, leaving only Lawrence, Alexander, and Amari.

“What do you think?” Lawrence asked, turning to Amari, his expression tight with worry.

Amari hesitated, unsure of how to voice her suspicions. “I… I don’t know. But Gabriel—something seems off about him.”

Lawrence frowned, clearly not expecting that. “Gabriel? No, he wouldn’t…”

Alexander, who had been listening silently, spoke up. “She’s right, Lawrence. I noticed it too. He’s been acting strange lately.”

Lawrence shook his head, though his resolve was wavering. “Gabriel’s family. He’s been with me since the beginning.”

“I know,” Amari said softly. “But that’s exactly why it would be so easy for him to betray you. No one would suspect him.”

The room fell into a tense silence as Lawrence processed their words. Amari could see the conflict in his eyes—he didn’t want to believe it, didn’t want to think that someone so close to him could do something so unforgivable.

“We’ll keep an eye on him,” Lawrence finally said, his voice hard. “But I won’t accuse him without proof.”

Amari nodded, understanding. It was a delicate situation, and one wrong move could tear the family apart even more.

---

That night, Amari found herself once again unable to sleep. The uncertainty, the suspicion—it weighed on her heavily. She tossed and turned for hours, her mind unable to settle.

Eventually, she gave up and slipped out of bed, making her way downstairs to the study. The house was quiet, save for the soft ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway. She was about to pour herself a glass of water when she heard voices—muffled but distinct.

Amari froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She moved quietly toward the source of the voices, keeping to the shadows. As she rounded the corner, she saw them—Gabriel, standing in the dimly lit study, speaking in hushed tones to a man she didn’t recognize.

“I’ve done my part,” Gabriel was saying, his voice tense. “But I need more time. Lawrence is starting to suspect.”

The man leaned in, his face obscured by the shadows. “Time is running out. If you don’t deliver soon, the Montemayors will come for you.”

Amari’s blood turned to ice. It was true. Gabriel was the traitor.

She backed away slowly, her mind racing. She had to tell Lawrence. She had to—

But before she could move, a floorboard creaked beneath her feet. Gabriel’s head snapped up, his eyes locking onto hers.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Then, without thinking, Amari turned and bolted down the hallway.

She could hear Gabriel’s footsteps behind her, growing closer with every second. Panic surged through her veins as she ran, her heart pounding in her ears.

She reached the stairs just as Gabriel grabbed her arm, yanking her back. “Amari, wait!”

“Let me go!” she cried, struggling against his grip.

But Gabriel held on tight, his eyes wide with desperation. “It’s not what you think! Just listen to me!”

Amari shook her head, her fear giving way to anger. “You’re working with them! You’re betraying Lawrence!”

“I had no choice!” Gabriel shouted, his voice breaking. “They threatened my family. If I didn’t help them, they were going to kill them!”

Amari stared at him, her chest heaving. “And what about Lawrence? What about his family?”

Gabriel’s grip loosened, his face contorted with guilt. “I never wanted this. I’m trying to fix it, but I’m in too deep.”

Amari’s heart ached with the weight of his words, but she couldn’t afford to pity him. “You need to come clean, Gabriel. Before it’s too late.”

Gabriel hesitated, his eyes filled with anguish. “I… I can’t.”

Before Amari could respond, she heard footsteps approaching from behind. She turned to see Lawrence, his expression a mix of shock and fury.

“What the hell is going on here?” Lawrence demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Amari stepped back, her heart pounding. “Lawrence, I—”

But before she could explain, Gabriel stepped forward, his head bowed. “It’s me. I’m the leak.”

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