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."

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

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

you know?" I finally broke the silence, About what's happening

"Not much. I got a call from a friend in the force. Apparently, there's been an investigation into your father's business dealings for a while

accusation sounded surreal, something ripped from a bad crime movie. "Money laundering? But... that doesn't make any sense.

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

a growing sense of betrayal. How could my father be

cars and yellow crime scene tape greeted us. The sight of it sent a fresh wave

drawing unnecessary attention. He took my hand in his, his grip firm yet comforting. "We'll go in together. "But be prepared. Things might be...

of detachment. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I steeled myself for whatever. awaited us inside. As ivan and Lapproached

you?" he asked

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

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

were questioning my mother. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, her

arms around me, holding me tight as if afraid I might disappear. "Thank

she must be going out of her mind but still, it felt foreign. Seeing 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?"

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

"But... how?"

"I haven't known what to think. They wouldn't tell me anything. Just

"We can try to find out more about your father in the morning" My

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

on my tongue.

together. A 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

mumbled, my voice thick with

"I know. I am too. But