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.

go,” I told them, my voice thick with emotion. “Ivan’s on his

her gaze filled with understanding. “We

a watery smile, then turned and headed for the door. As I stepped out into the cool

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 me up and the tension in the car

broke the

a brief moment. “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

Money laundering? The accusation sounded surreal, something ripped from a bad crime movie. “Money laundering? But… that doesn’t make any sense. I know my father might be an a** h o e but he is a good businessman, a successful one.

Amaya,” He interrupted, his voice laced with frustration. “That’s what we’re going to find out,

and a growing sense of betrayal.

Chapter 27

my father’s house, a swarm of police cars and yellow crime scene tape greeted us. The sight of it sent a fresh wave of panic crashing over me. This was

a silent agreement to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. He took my hand in

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 gaze flickering between us with

help you?” he

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

to enter the house. The first thing that hit me was the chaos. Furniture was overturned, drawers hung open, papers were s c a

mother. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, her normally composed face

towards me. She threw her arms around me, holding

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

voice h o a r s e. “The FBI. They said

“But… how?”

her voice cracking with despair. “I haven’t known what to think. They

let your mom get some rest,” he said gently. “We can try to find out more about your father

my hand, her eyes pleading. “Don’t leave

me like a heavy cloak. With a heavy heart, I squeezed her hand back. “We’ll stay,”

on my tongue.

glass of water, I found myself drawn to a 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 this- my father’s arrest hanging like a dark cloud over everything. Exhaustion washed over me, a heavy wave that threatened to