Bonds

Chapter 104

-Maya’s POV-

Adrenaline surged through my veins, my gaze darted back to the computer screen, the image frozen on a shot of me watching the sleeping

the

twins. Panic clawed at my throat,

Who was watching me?

And how long had they been doing it?

Throwing the covers back in a single, frantic motion, I scrambled out of bed. My bare feet slapped against the cold floor as I raced towards the door, the chilling image on the screen burning into my memory. I had to get to the twins, see if they were alright.

Were they safe?

Had whoever was watching me done anything to them?

Reaching their room, I flung the door open with a force that sent it slamming against the wall. Relief washed over me in a tidal wave as I took In the scene before me. Nate and Ivy lay nestled together still, fast asleep, their breathing soft and even. The sight of them, safe and sound, calmed the frantic storm raging inside me for a moment.

But the image on the computer screen kept flashing through my mind, a constant reminder of the threat that lurked in the shadows. Someone had been watching me, watching the twins. What did they want? And how long had this been going on? The thought sent a fresh wave of panic crashing over me.

someone thought pulling a prank would be fun. But it wasn’t, someone was watching me still. They had been in the house. They had been in the twins room. They had been in the room I shared with Ivan. Ivan. I needed

to me. He was staring out at the star–dusted night

out, my voice

over my dishevelled appearance, taking in the way my hair hung

He took

I stumbled back a step, my hand flying out to grip the railing for support. Suddenly, the adrenaline that had been keeping me going started to ebb away, leaving behind a wave of exhaustion and

was gentle, sending a spark of warmth through the growing coldness that had begun to creep into my

be collapsing. “No, it’s not

frantic explanation, the words tumbling out in a jumbled mess. I

Chapter 104

frozen image on the screen, the realization

put the twins at risk. Ivan listened patiently, his expression unreadable. He didn’t interrupt, didn’t judge. He simply waited, allowing me to purge the fear and panic from

threatening to spill over. I

me. “Maybe it’s the adrenaline from what happened earlier messing with your

live feed of me watching the twins. Frozen on the screen. You said you took out the camera in

any sense of reason. Images of hidden cameras flashed through my mind, each one a potential threat to the twins‘ safety. The thought of them being watched, their every move monitored by unseen

hand on my shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle. “Okay, okay,” he soothed, his voice calm and steady in stark contrast to

“They could be anywhere! We need to

We can’t go searching the house

going to do,” he continued, his voice taking on a more authoritative tone. “You go back inside and get some rest. It’s cold

away from me a few paces. I watched as he dialed a number, his brow furrowed in concentration. He spoke in hushed tones, his voice low and serious as he explained the

phone and turned back to me. “I just called some people I know,” he explained.” They’ll be here first thing in the morning. They’ll sweep the entire mansion, check all the security footage, and find out who’s

of relief washed over me, momentarily pushing back the tide