Bonds

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.

voice thick with emotion. “Ivan’s on his

her gaze filled with understanding. “We will come see you

for the door. As I stepped out into the cool

gaze fixed on the road ahead, a storm brewing

you know?” I finally broke the

“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 now. Something about money laundering,

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

laced with frustration. “That’s what

anxieties, and a growing sense of betrayal. How could my father be involved in something like this?

Chapter 27

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

my hand in his, his grip firm yet comforting. “We’ll go

detachment. Taking 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

help you?”

“This is my husband, Ivan McCall. It’s my father’s house

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 s c a e r e d everywhere. It looked like a tornado had

room, a 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 flicker of relief

cried, rushing towards me. She threw her arms around me, holding me tight as if afraid I might disappear. “Thank

at this moment and 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?” I

with a trembling hand. “They took him,” she said, her voice h o a r s e. “The FBI. They said he was… involved in some kind of illegal activities. Money laundering, they

“But… how?”

known what to think. They wouldn’t tell me anything.

my shoulder as if sensing my growing unease. “We should let your mom get some

clung to my hand, her

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

on my tongue.

framed 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 events pressed down on me with renewed force. Alex, my marriage, and now