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."

watery smile, then turned and headed for the door. As

but he kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead,

you know?" I finally broke

I got a call from a friend in the force. Apparently, there's been an investigation into your father's business dealings for a

something ripped 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. Why

interrupted, his voice laced with frustration. "That's what we're going to find out,

of betrayal. How could my father be involved

greeted us. The sight of it sent a fresh wave of panic crashing over me. This was serious. This wasn't

my

for whatever. awaited us inside. As ivan and Lapproached the house, a police officer materialized at the

help you?" he asked

Amaya Stone," I said, forcing my voice to remain calm. "This is my

beat, then stopped aside, allowing us to enter the house. The first thing that hit me was the chaos. Furniture was overturned, drawers hung open, papers were scaered everywhere. It looked like a tornado had

Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, her

around me, holding me tight as if afraid I might disappear. "Thank goodness you're

her like this. Uneasily, I hugged her back, the familiar scent of her perfume doing little to dispel the sense of unease that had settled deep within me. "What's going on?" I

"They took him," she said, her voice hoarse. "The FBI. They said he was... involved in some

"But... how?"

don't know," She interrupted, her voice cracking with despair. "I haven't known what to think. They wouldn't tell me

as if sensing my growing unease. "We should let your mom get some rest," he said gently. "We can try to find out more

weight of her fear settled on me like a heavy cloak. With a heavy heart, I squeezed her hand back. "We'll stay," I promised,

on my tongue.

photograph on the mantle. The three of us stood together even though it looked forced but still, we stood together. A lump formed in my throat. Suddenly, the weight of the night's

tired, Mom," I mumbled, my

"I know. I