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.

had forced myself to forget about the text, everything had been fine. It was a one time thing like Natalia said, 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 find him. I sprinted out of the room and down the hallway, my bare

found Ivan outside, standing on the porch, his back to me. He

my

surprise. His gaze flickered over my dishevelled appearance, taking in the way my hair hung loose around

asked, his voice laced with urgency. He took a few quick steps towards me, his brow furrowed

I could answer, a wave of nausea washed over me. My vision blurred, and 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

easy there,” He said, reaching out to steady me. His touch was gentle, sending a spark of warmth through the growing coldness that had begun to creep

This wasn’t the time to be collapsing. “No,

deep breath, I launched into a frantic explanation, the words tumbling out in a jumbled mess. I told him about the

Chapter 104

image on the screen, the realization that someone had

in my gut, a hot inferno fueled by the knowledge that I had 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 my system

up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I felt so

fresh wave of panic through me. “Maybe it’s the adrenaline from what happened earlier messing with your head?” His jaw clenched slightly at

Frozen on the screen. You said you took out the camera in their room. That means someone had installed another one, had access to it and had been watching them. Who knows where else in

flashed through my mind, each one a potential threat to the twins‘ safety. The thought of them being watched, their every move

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

cried, my voice laced with desperation. “They could be anywhere! We need to check the

searching the house in this state. We’d wake the twins

face. “Here’s what we’re going to do,” he continued, his voice taking on a more authoritative tone. “You go back inside and

from me a few paces. I watched as he dialed a number, his brow

minutes, he hung up the phone and turned back to me. “I just called some people I know,” he explained.” They’ll be here first thing in the

washed over me, momentarily pushing back the