Better In Your Arms (Parisian Mafia 2#)

17

### Chapter 17: Aftermath and New Beginnings

The early morning sun began to rise over the dockyard, casting a pale light over the scene of destruction. The smoke from the burning shipment still lingered in the air, and the sound of sirens in the distance signaled that the authorities would soon arrive. But for Lawrence and Amari, it felt like they had finally emerged from a long, dark tunnel.

They stood together, side by side, watching as their men moved through the area, securing the remaining Montemayor forces and tying up loose ends. Lawrence's arm remained wrapped protectively around Amari’s shoulders, his mind still reeling from the events of the night.

"Do you think this is really the end for them?" Amari asked, her voice soft but filled with uncertainty.

Lawrence shook his head, his eyes hardening. "Felipe's down, but there will always be someone else waiting to take his place. His family’s connections run deep. It’s not over—not yet. But we’ve crippled them, and that gives us time."

Amari nodded, understanding the weight of their victory but also the reality that more battles lay ahead. "At least we stopped them from gaining that weaponry. That could’ve tipped the scales in their favor."

Lawrence turned to her, his expression softening. "You did great back there, Amari. You were brilliant."

Her lips curved into a small smile, though the exhaustion in her eyes was evident. "It wasn’t easy. But we had to fight for our future—for something better."

The weight of her words settled between them. This war between their families had taken so much from them, yet here they stood, determined to build a new future. It wasn’t going to be easy, but they had each other, and that was enough.

As they moved to leave the dockyard, Lawrence’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, seeing an incoming call from Jaxon.

"Jaxon, what’s the situation?" Lawrence answered, his tone all business.

"We’re clear on the other side," Jaxon reported. "Felipe’s men are either dead or captured. It’s over here. How’s it looking on your end?"

Lawrence glanced back at the wreckage of the dock. "The same. Felipe’s been neutralized. The shipment’s destroyed."

"Good. We’ll regroup at the estate and figure out our next move," Jaxon said before hanging up.

Amari looked at Lawrence, a question in her eyes. "What now?"

"We go home," he replied, his voice softer now, "and we rest. Then, we prepare for whatever comes next."

---

Later that morning, the air was filled with a quiet calm that felt strange after the chaos of the night. Lawrence and Amari returned to the Stuart estate, where the remnants of their team were already gathering. The estate had become a fortress of sorts—a safe haven in the midst of the mafia wars.

Inside, Amari collapsed onto the plush sofa, letting out a sigh of relief. Her body ached from the fight, but she felt a strange sense of peace wash over her.

"You should rest," Lawrence said, kneeling in front of her. "You’ve been through enough for one night."

Amari shook her head, though her tired eyes betrayed her. "There’s too much to do. I can’t rest yet."

Lawrence took her hands in his, his expression gentle. "You need to take care of yourself, Amari. We’ll handle the aftermath together, but for now, you need to recharge."

Amari hesitated, but the exhaustion was beginning to catch up with her. She gave him a small nod, leaning back against the cushions.

"Fine," she said with a tired smile. "But only if you promise to rest too."

Lawrence chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Deal."

He rose to his feet, looking around the room where their closest allies were gathering. Jaxon stood nearby, his face drawn but determined, already discussing strategy with the others.

As Lawrence turned to join them, Amari’s voice stopped him.

"Lawrence?"

He looked back at her, his heart swelling at the sight of her curled up on the sofa, her eyes half-closed.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Lawrence’s chest tightened, and a soft smile spread across his face. "I love you too, Amari. Always."

---

As the days passed, the aftermath of the battle began to settle. Felipe Montemayor remained in critical condition, under heavy guard at a private hospital, while his surviving men were either in custody or hiding in fear of retaliation from the Stuarts.

Though the threat had been greatly diminished, Lawrence and Amari knew they couldn’t let their guard down. The Montemayor family had deep roots, and the power vacuum Felipe’s defeat created would no doubt attract dangerous figures from the shadows.

But for now, there was a sense of peace—however temporary it might be.

Amari sat in the garden one afternoon, the sun warming her face as she sipped tea. It was one of the few moments of quiet she’d had in weeks, and she relished it. Lawrence joined her, sitting beside her on the stone bench.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, taking her hand in his.

"Better," Amari replied, her eyes scanning the garden. "I’m starting to feel like myself again. But I can’t help thinking about what comes next."

Lawrence nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "We’ll deal with it, whatever it is. Together."

Amari leaned her head on his shoulder, drawing comfort from his steady presence. "I know. But I still worry."

"You’re not alone in this, Amari," Lawrence said, his voice firm but gentle. "We’ll face it head-on, just like we always do."

She smiled softly, closing her eyes and breathing in the scent of the garden’s flowers. "I just hope that, one day, we won’t have to keep fighting. That we can finally live in peace."

Lawrence pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "We’ll make that day come. I promise you."

---

The weeks that followed were marked by a series of strategic moves. Lawrence and Amari worked tirelessly to secure their position and ensure the Montemayor family’s remaining assets were neutralized. They made alliances, gathered intelligence, and tightened their control over the city’s underworld.

But amidst the power plays and tactical decisions, they also found moments of peace—moments where they could just be Lawrence and Amari, not leaders of warring families.

One night, as they lay in bed, Amari turned to Lawrence, her voice quiet in the darkness. "Do you ever think about the future? About what happens when this war is over?"

Lawrence shifted, turning to face her. "All the time. I think about us—about what we’ll build together once this is all behind us."

Amari’s heart swelled at his words, and she reached out to touch his face, her fingers tracing the lines of his jaw. "I want that too. More than anything."

Lawrence smiled, leaning in to kiss her softly. "We’ll get there. I’ll make sure of it."

And in that moment, as they lay together in the quiet of the night, the future felt a little brighter.

---