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.

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.

Ivan outside, standing on the porch, his back to me. He was staring out at

out, my voice ragged with

the sound of my voice, his face etched with surprise. His gaze flickered over my dishevelled appearance, taking in the way my hair hung loose around my shoulders and my clothes were rumpled from sleep. Concern clouded

voice laced with urgency. He took a few quick steps towards

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

warmth through the growing coldness that had begun to

shook my head, forcing myself to focus. This wasn’t the time to be collapsing. “No, it’s not a nightmare,” I

into a frantic explanation, the words tumbling out in

Chapter 104

the screen, the realization that someone had been

that I had put the twins at risk. Ivan listened patiently, his expression unreadable. He didn’t interrupt, didn’t judge. He simply

welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill

of doubt that sent a fresh wave of panic through me. “Maybe it’s the adrenaline from what happened earlier messing

fresh wave of fear. “Yes, I swear,” I stammered. “It 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

at me, a hungry beast devouring 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 eyes, filled me with a

touch surprisingly gentle. “Okay, okay,” he soothed, his voice calm

how?” I cried, my voice laced with desperation. “They could be anywhere! We

We can’t go searching the house in this state. We’d wake the twins and probably miss

scanning my face. “Here’s what we’re going 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

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

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

wave of relief washed over me, momentarily pushing back the tide