Bonds

Chapter 145

-Maya’s POV-

Alex had dropped me back at the safe house after his mysterious phone call. I kneew we still had a lot to talk about and there was still the matter of my father’s situation, something I had to passively mention to Alex for my mother’s sake. But I knew deep down he wouldn’t be interested in helping, not after everything that had happened. The girls and Christian were constantly coming and going and when I entered, the girls were all in the living room Riley, Natalia, and Sarah. Christian was nowhere to be seen, probably busy helping Alex with whatever crisis had unfolded and since I couldn‘ heat the twins, I knew they were asleep.

Sarah spotted the ring the moment I walked in. “Well, well, well,” she drawled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Someone’s been busy. Nice rock.”

Her comment instantly grabbed Natalia and Riley’s attention. I groaned, shooting Sarah a playful glare. Natalia grabbed me immediately and planted me firmly on a chair. “I leave you for a minute and you come back with a ring. Start talking.”

“Hold on,” Riley added, already on her way to the kitchen. “Bottles and glasses first.”

I gave her a look, but she just rolled her eyes. “Look, I’m a mafia princess who ran away from an arranged marriage to become a bartender, and I still have baggage with my father even though we’ve put that aside for now. We’re drinking.”

“Hear, hear!” Sarah chimed in, raising an invisible glass. Natalia’s laughter echoed through the room.

It took only a moment for Riley to return, a tray laden with glasses and three different bottles. Looking ahead, I knew it was going to be a long night. But as I settled into the chair with their expectant faces staring at me, a sense of belonging washed over me. These were my people, the ones who understood, the ones who had my back.

“Alright,” Natalia prompted, “we’re getting old, and those bundles of chaos can wake up any minute.”

I chuckled. “Okay, so… Alex proposed again, and I said yes again. Yes, I know I’m technically still married to Ivan,” saying his name sent a shiver down my spine, “and yes, I know Alex has made a lot of mistakes. But even after everything…” I trailed off, my voice catching slightly. “Even after everything, I still want him. So yeah, I said yes.”

“I am really happy for you,

she raised her glass. “To the crazy

added with a sly grin.

She shot us all a questioning look. “Why are

that?”

Natalia began, “with all the chaos around, we only really know the surface of what happened with you running away and… well, dating Christian.”

sighed, pouring herself another drink. “Yeah, that’s going to need a

amber liquid in her glass before taking a long sip. “In the world I grew up in arranged marriages were as common as the blood spilled on the streets. I didn’t like it, but there wasn’t anything I could

pained expression flickered across her face, a momentary glimpse into the life she’d left behind. Natalia reached out, squeezing Riley’s hand in a silent gesture of understanding. Riley offered a grateful smile before continuing.

and even though I knew it was coming, it still hit me like a ton of bricks when he told me who he’d picked, I

her eyes distant. Sarah leaned forward, her earlier

Riley continued, her voice dropping to a barely audible whisper. “There was

silence filled the room, broken only by the clinking of ice against glass. Even the ever–bubbly Sarah seemed subdued

a hint of defiance creeping back into her voice, “I met Christian. One thing led to another, and… well, let’s just say it was exhilarating. We only saw each other for two weeks, but he felt like everything

meeting each of ours in turn. “Time was running out,” she explained. “I knew I had to run. There was another thing, too. The monster I was supposed to marry only wanted

disappeared.” she finished a touch of

pursed in a

“Got a job, kept my head down. Never looked back. Her gaze met mine, a flicker of warmth replacing the earlier darkness. “Then I met you, Amaya.

face, a stark contrast to the turmoil she’d just described. She raised her glass in a toast. “Here’s to new beginnings and finding

glasses, the sound echoing in the comfortable