Better In Your Arms (Parisian Mafia 2#)

15

Chapter 15: Shadows of the Past

The quiet of the evening seemed deceiving. Lawrence sat in his office, staring out at the city skyline, deep in thought. The events of the past weeks weighed heavily on him. Gabriel’s betrayal still stung, but there was no time to dwell on that now. Felipe Montemayor, the ever-present threat, was moving in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Amari entered the office, her steps soft yet deliberate. She noticed the tension in Lawrence’s posture—the way his shoulders remained rigid, the furrow in his brow. Without saying a word, she walked up behind him and rested her hands on his shoulders, gently squeezing them.

"You’ve been sitting here for hours, Lawrence," she said softly. "You need to rest."

Lawrence sighed, closing his eyes as he leaned back into her touch. "Rest seems impossible right now. There’s too much to prepare for."

Amari walked around to face him, taking a seat on the edge of his desk. She studied him carefully, concern filling her gaze. "You don’t have to do this alone. You have me, and you have the team. We’ll get through this together."

Lawrence opened his eyes, meeting her gaze. There was something in her voice—steady, unwavering—that reminded him of why he had fallen in love with her. She had been his anchor, his source of strength, even when the world around them seemed to be collapsing.

"I know," he admitted, his voice low. "It’s just… I don’t want any more surprises. The Montemayors are unpredictable, and Gabriel’s betrayal made it clear that we can’t trust anyone outside of our circle."

Amari nodded, her expression serious. "And that’s why we have to be smarter than them. Felipe thinks he has the upper hand, but we can turn this around if we’re strategic."

Lawrence’s lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile. "I knew there was a reason I married you."

Amari smirked, playfully swatting his arm. "I’m more than just a pretty face, Stuart."

He chuckled, the sound easing some of the tension in the room. For a moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift, if only briefly.

But the moment didn’t last.

A sharp knock on the door broke the peace. Without waiting for an invitation, Marcus, one of Lawrence’s most trusted men, entered the room.

"Boss, we’ve received word from one of our contacts," Marcus began, his voice urgent. "The Montemayors are making a move tonight."

Lawrence immediately straightened, all traces of levity gone. "Where?"

"A shipment dock on the south side of the city," Marcus replied. "They’re meeting with some of their allies to finalize an arms deal. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to intercept."

Lawrence stood, his jaw set in determination. "Good. We’ve been waiting for a chance like this. Gather the team and make sure we’re ready. We move in an hour."

Marcus nodded and swiftly exited the room, leaving Lawrence and Amari alone once more.

Amari’s heart pounded in her chest. She had been through her fair share of missions, but this one felt different. The stakes were higher, and the risks even greater. The Montemayors weren’t just any enemy—they were ruthless, cunning, and willing to destroy anyone who stood in their way.

"Are you sure about this?" Amari asked, her voice quiet but firm. "Felipe won’t go down easily, and if we go after him tonight, it could trigger a full-scale war."

Lawrence turned to her, his expression unreadable. "This has been building for months, Amari. The Montemayors have been waiting for their chance, and if we don’t make the first move, they will. It’s time to end this."

Amari’s stomach twisted at the thought. She had always known that this moment would come—that they couldn’t avoid the inevitable clash with Felipe and his forces. But that didn’t make it any easier.

Still, she trusted Lawrence. He had always been a strategic leader, one who thought several steps ahead of his enemies. If he believed this was the right move, then she would stand by his side, just as she always had.

"I’ll be with you, no matter what happens," she said firmly, standing and moving closer to him.

Lawrence’s gaze softened as he looked at her, his hand reaching out to gently cup her face. "I know, Amari. And that’s what gives me the strength to keep going."

He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before stepping back, his resolve hardening once more. "Let’s go. We’ve got a battle to win."

---

The south side of the city was dark, the dockyards eerily quiet save for the occasional creak of the ships bobbing in the water. Lawrence, Amari, and their team moved silently through the shadows, their eyes scanning the area for any sign of the Montemayors.

Lawrence’s heart raced with anticipation. This could be the turning point in their fight—a chance to cripple Felipe’s operation before it gained more traction. But they had to be careful. One wrong move, and everything could go up in flames.

Amari crouched beside him, her eyes sharp as she surveyed the scene. "I count at least ten guards, maybe more inside."

Lawrence nodded. "We’ll need to take them out quietly before they can sound the alarm. Once we’re inside, we’ll split up—Marcus will handle the shipment, and we’ll deal with Felipe’s men."

Amari smirked. "Sounds like a plan."

As they prepared to move, a sudden noise caught their attention—a faint rustling, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Lawrence’s hand shot up, signaling the team to halt.

"Someone’s coming," he whispered, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the darkness.

The footsteps grew louder, and soon, a figure emerged from the shadows—a man, tall and imposing, with a familiar face that made Lawrence’s blood run cold.

Felipe Montemayor.

The air seemed to thicken with tension as Lawrence and Felipe locked eyes, each man sizing the other up, the weight of their shared history hanging between them.

"Lawrence Stuart," Felipe’s voice was smooth, almost mocking. "I knew you’d come."

Lawrence’s jaw clenched, but he remained calm. "And I knew you’d be here, Felipe. You always were predictable."

Felipe chuckled, taking a step closer. "Predictable? Perhaps. But you’ve made a mistake coming here tonight."

Lawrence’s hand twitched, ready to reach for his weapon if necessary. "The only mistake was thinking you could continue this game without consequences. It ends tonight, Felipe."

Felipe’s smile faded, his eyes darkening with a dangerous glint. "We’ll see about that."

Without warning, the dock exploded into chaos.

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