Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter

27

-Maya's POV-

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. The phone felt heavy in my hand, suddenly a foreign object. "What?" I whispered, the single word escaping my lips in a ragged breath. The line went dead before I could say anything else. I stared at the phone screen, numb, the gravity of Ivan's words sinking in.

"Amaya? What's wrong?" Natalia's voice cut through the fog of confusion clouding my mind. Her hand shot out to grip mine, "What happened?"

I looked at her, my mouth working soundlessly for a moment. "My father. He has been arrested. Ivan just called. The FBI... they're investigating him for something." Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Does he know what it's about?"

1 shook my head slowly, the room feeling like it was closing in on me. "No. He just said they're investigating him. He's coming to pick me up."

A flicker of worry crossed her face. "Do you w

want me to come with you?" she asked. "Maybe it would be better if you weren't alone."

"No. I need to handle this myself. Thank you, though, Natalia. For everything and you too Nathan."

I know he had gone quiet just like he always did when Natalia and I were having our moment. He nodded giving me a tight smile, "Anytime, Maya."

Natalia pulled me into a tight hug, her embrace a silent reassurance in the face of the unknown. "Call me when you know more. And whatever happens, you know I'm here for you."

I clung to her for a moment longer, drawing strength from her unwavering support. Then, I pulled back, wiping at the tears that had welled up in my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus. My father needed me, no matter how much I considered him a monster sometimes and whatever ho'd gotten himself into, I had to be there for him.

"I gotta go," I told them, my voice thick with emotion. "Ivan's on his way."

Nathan nodded, her gaze filled with understanding. "We will come see you later."

turned and headed for the door. As I stepped out into the cool

I stole a glance at him once, but he kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead, a storm brewing behind his normally calm eyes. He hadn't said a single word to me since he picked me up and

you know?" I finally broke the silence,

a call from a friend in the force. Apparently, there's been an investigation into your father's business dealings for a while now. Something about money laundering, maybe

from a bad crime movie. "Money laundering? But... that doesn't make any sense. I know my father might be an a** ho e but he is a good businessman, a successful one.

with frustration. "That's what we're going to find

with questions, anxieties, and a growing sense of betrayal. How could my father

father's house, a swarm of police cars and yellow crime scene tape greeted us. The

a few houses down, a silent agreement to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. He took my hand in his, his grip firm yet comforting. "We'll go in

constricting with a mixture of fear and a strange sense of detachment. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I steeled myself for

you?" he asked

said, forcing my voice to remain calm. "This is my husband, Ivan McCall. It's my father's house and I need

that hit me was the

group of officers were questioning my mother. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, her normally

me. She threw her arms around me, holding me

both needed each other at this moment and she must be going out of her mind but still, it felt foreign. Seeing her like this. Uneasily, I

at her tears with a trembling hand. "They took him," she said, her voice

"But... how?"

despair. "I haven't known what to think.

forward, placing a hand on my shoulder as if sensing my growing unease. "We should let your mom get some rest," he said gently. "We can try to find out more about your father in the morning"

her fear settled on me like a heavy cloak. With a heavy heart, I squeezed her

on my tongue.

throat. Suddenly, the weight of the night's events pressed down on me with renewed force. Alex, my marriage, and now this- my father's arrest hanging like a dark cloud over everything. Exhaustion washed over me, a heavy wave that

so tired, Mom," I mumbled,

a tight embrace. "I know. I am too. But we'll get