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."

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

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 hadn't

I finally broke the

his head towards me for a brief moment. "Not much. I got a call from a friend in the force.

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

his voice laced with frustration. "That's what we're going

questions, anxieties, and a growing sense of betrayal. How

swarm of police cars and yellow crime scene tape greeted us. The sight of it sent

car a few houses down, a silent agreement to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. He took my

throat constricting with a mixture of fear and a strange sense of detachment. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I steeled myself for whatever. awaited us inside. As ivan and

help you?" he asked

my husband, Ivan McCall.

us to enter the house. The first thing that hit me was the chaos.

group of officers were questioning my mother. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, her normally composed face etched with worry and fear. When she saw me, a

around me, holding

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

her tears with a trembling hand. "They took him," she said, her voice hoarse. "The FBI. They said he was... involved in some kind of illegal activities. Money laundering, they

"But... how?"

her voice cracking with despair. "I haven't known what to think.

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" My mother

cloak. With a heavy heart,

on my tongue.

forced but still, we stood together. A lump formed in my throat. Suddenly, the weight

so tired, Mom," I mumbled, my

out and pulled me into a tight embrace. "I know. I am too.