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.

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

his back to me.

I called out, my voice ragged with

of my voice, his face etched with surprise. His gaze flickered over my dishevelled appearance, taking in the way my hair hung loose

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

to grip the railing for support. Suddenly, the adrenaline that had been keeping me going started to ebb

warmth through the growing coldness that had begun to creep into

This wasn’t the time to be collapsing.

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

Chapter 104

screen, the

spoke, I could feel the color draining from my face. Shame burned 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 spill over. I felt so stupid, so

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

was a live feed of me watching the twins. 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 the house they

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 eyes, filled me

a moment. Then, he reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle. “Okay, okay,” he soothed, his voice calm and

voice laced with desperation. “They could be anywhere! We need

leaf. We can’t go searching the house

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

a number, his brow furrowed in concentration. He

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

me, momentarily pushing back the tide of