Better In Your Arms (Parisian Mafia 2#)

20

Chapter 20: Under Siege

The morning sun had barely crested over the horizon when the news broke: the Halversons were making their next move, a full-scale attack on the Stuart estate. They had wasted no time after the failed deal with Navarro, retaliating with a show of force that Lawrence had been bracing for.

Alarms blared across the property as guards scrambled into position. Lawrence stood in the war room, surrounded by his most trusted men and Amari at his side, the tension palpable in the air. A map of the estate was spread out on the table, with markers showing the incoming threat. The Halversons were coming from the east, their numbers large, but Lawrence knew that numbers alone wouldn’t win this fight.

“We knew this was coming,” Lawrence said, his voice calm but commanding. “They’re testing us, trying to see if we’ll crumble. But we won’t.”

Jaxon, standing beside him, looked grim. “They’ve brought heavy firepower, Lawrence. This won’t be easy.”

Amari’s hand rested on Lawrence’s arm. “We’ve prepared for this. The defenses are strong, and we have more than just weapons on our side.”

Lawrence nodded. “We’ll hold them off. But we need to send a message, not just defend the estate. They need to know this war is over before it even begins.”

Amari met his gaze, her eyes filled with determination. “Then let’s show them what we’re capable of.”

---

The first wave of attackers hit the outer perimeter hard. Gunfire erupted as the Stuart guards held their positions, returning fire with precision. The sound of explosions echoed in the distance as the Halverson forces tried to breach the walls. But the defenses were solid, and for every inch they gained, they paid a heavy price.

Lawrence watched the battle unfold from the central command, issuing orders and directing the flow of the defense. His mind was sharp, calculating every move with the precision of a seasoned leader. But his thoughts were never far from Amari, who was coordinating their response with equal skill. Together, they were an unstoppable force.

As the fight raged on, Lawrence received a report from one of his scouts. “They’ve got reinforcements coming from the south. We’re outnumbered.”

Lawrence clenched his jaw. “We can’t let them surround us. Jaxon, take a team and intercept those reinforcements. We need to cut them off before they reach the main estate.”

Jaxon nodded, already moving to gather his men. “We’ll handle it.”

Amari glanced at Lawrence as Jaxon left the room. “We’ve prepared for this, Lawrence. They may have numbers, but we have strategy.”

He met her gaze, his expression softening for a moment. “I know. And with you by my side, I’m not worried. Let’s make sure this is the last time the Halversons try something like this.”

---

Jaxon’s team moved swiftly through the southern perimeter, setting up an ambush for the Halverson reinforcements. The enemy soldiers were confident, expecting to overwhelm the Stuart defenses with sheer force. But they didn’t anticipate Jaxon’s tactical brilliance.

As the Halverson reinforcements approached, Jaxon gave the signal, and his team sprang into action. Gunfire and smoke filled the air as they struck with precision, taking out the lead vehicles and sowing chaos among the enemy ranks. It was a brutal fight, but the Stuarts held the upper hand.

Within minutes, the southern reinforcements were in disarray, retreating as Jaxon’s team pushed them back. The tide of the battle was turning in the Stuarts’ favor.

---

Back at the estate, Lawrence and Amari stood on the balcony overlooking the battlefield. The main Halverson force was struggling to break through, their numbers dwindling as they met fierce resistance. Lawrence could see the frustration in their ranks, the desperation as they realized they were losing.

“They thought they could take us down with brute force,” Amari said quietly. “But they underestimated us.”

Lawrence nodded, his gaze never leaving the battlefield. “They always do. But this isn’t over yet.”

As if on cue, a loud explosion rocked the ground beneath them. Lawrence’s eyes narrowed as he saw a group of Halverson soldiers advancing toward the estate’s main gate, carrying heavy explosives.

“They’re trying to breach the gate,” Lawrence said, his voice sharp. “I’ll handle this.”

Amari reached for his hand, stopping him for a moment. “Be careful.”

He squeezed her hand briefly before turning to leave. “I always am.”

---

Lawrence made his way to the front lines, where his men were already engaging the Halverson soldiers trying to breach the gate. The situation was dire—if the gate fell, the Halversons would flood into the estate.

Taking charge, Lawrence rallied his men, coordinating a counterattack. With precision and determination, they fought back the advancing Halverson forces, pushing them away from the gate.

But the enemy was relentless, and the explosives they carried were powerful. One of the Halverson soldiers managed to set a charge near the gate, and the explosion that followed sent debris flying through the air. Lawrence was thrown back by the blast, hitting the ground hard.

For a moment, everything went silent. Lawrence’s vision blurred as he struggled to get back on his feet. His head was ringing, and his body ached from the impact. But through the haze, he saw the enemy regrouping, preparing for another assault.

“Get up,” he muttered to himself, forcing his body to move. “Get up.”

He pushed himself to his feet, grabbing his weapon and staggering back toward the gate. His men were holding the line, but they wouldn’t last much longer without support.

Just as the Halverson forces were about to make their final push, a hail of gunfire erupted from the side. Reinforcements had arrived—Jaxon’s team, having dealt with the southern forces, was now attacking the Halversons from the flank.

The enemy was caught off guard, and within minutes, the tide of battle shifted. With renewed strength, Lawrence’s men pushed forward, driving the Halversons back.

As the last of the enemy soldiers retreated, the battlefield fell silent. The attack was over.

---

Lawrence stood at the ruined gate, surveying the aftermath. The estate had held, but it had been a close call. His men were already beginning to clean up the debris and tend to the wounded.

Amari approached him, her face filled with relief. “You did it,” she said softly.

Lawrence turned to her, exhaustion in his eyes but a small smile on his lips. “We did it. They won’t try this again anytime soon.”

Amari smiled back, stepping closer to him. “No, they won’t. But we’ll be ready if they do.”

Lawrence pulled her into his arms, holding her close as the weight of the day began to settle in. The war with the Halversons wasn’t over, but they had survived another battle. And as long as they had each other, Lawrence knew they could face whatever came next.

---