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

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

called out, my voice ragged

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

What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice laced with urgency. He took a few quick steps towards me,

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

out to steady me. His touch was gentle, sending a spark of warmth

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

tumbling out in a jumbled mess. I told him about the

Chapter 104

on the screen, the

fueled by the knowledge that I had put the twins at risk. Ivan listened patiently,

finished, I was breathless, my entire body trembling. Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I felt so stupid, so careless. How could I have

asked, his voice laced with a hint of doubt that sent a fresh wave of panic through me. “Maybe it’s the adrenaline from what happened earlier messing with your head?”

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 to it and had been watching them. Who

through my mind, each one a potential threat to the twins‘ safety. The thought of

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

laced with desperation. “They could

head gently. “Look at you. You’re shaking like a leaf. We can’t go searching the house in this state. We’d

taking on a more authoritative tone.

paces. I watched as he dialed a number, his brow furrowed in concentration. He spoke in

just called some people I know,” he explained.” They’ll be here first

relief washed over me, momentarily pushing back the tide of fear. “Are you sure they can handle