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."

headed for the door. As I stepped out into the cool night air, a shiver ran down

He gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white, his jaw clenched with suppressed anger. 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

do you know?" I finally broke the

moment. "Not much. I got a call from a friend in the force. Apparently, there's been an investigation into

doesn't make any sense. I know my father might be an a** ho e but he is

know, Amaya," He interrupted, his voice laced with frustration. "That's what we're going to

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

of police cars and yellow crime scene tape greeted us. The sight of it sent a fresh wave of panic crashing over me.

He took my hand in

a deep, shaky breath, I steeled myself for whatever. awaited us inside. As ivan and Lapproached the house, a police officer materialized at the door, his

you?"

voice to remain calm. "This is my husband, Ivan McCall. It's my father's

house. The first thing that hit me was the chaos. Furniture was overturned, drawers hung open,

red-rimmed and swollen, her normally composed face etched with worry and fear. When she saw me, a

arms around me, holding me tight as if afraid I might

it felt foreign. Seeing her like this. Uneasily, I hugged her back, the familiar scent of her perfume doing little to dispel

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

"But... how?"

her voice cracking with despair. "I haven't known what to think. They wouldn't tell me

gently. "We can try to

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

on my tongue.

lump formed in my 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

tired, Mom," I mumbled, my

"I know. I am too.