Bonds

-Maya's POV-

The silence in the room was a heavy thing, pressing down on me like a thick blanket. Sleep, the solace I craved, remained stubbornly out of reach. Every time I drifted off, my eyelids fluttering closed, the image of the open window would flash behind them, sharp and clear. Ivy's words, a tiny voice trembling with fear, echoed in the empty space of my mind: "Someone went out the window."

They were safe now, nestled together in my bed, their small bodies radiating a comforting warmth. I couldn't bear the thought of them sleeping in that room, not tonight. So, I'd bundled them both up, a sleepy and protesting Nate clinging to my arm, and carried them into my own room. Promises of monsters being just bad dreams and extra cuddles had eventually lulled them back to sleep, leaving me wide awake, staring at the ceiling.

Ivan hadn't come to bed. The empty space beside me felt vast and cold, a physical manifestation of the distance that had grown between us. Part of me wanted to call out to him, to ask where he was, but another part held back. We were both facing a storm, but right now, we seemed to be weathering it alone. Thinking about him only added another layer of worry to the churning mess in my stomach.

The events of the night replayed themselves on a loop in my mind. The frozen image on the computer screen, a constant reminder that someone had been watching us, had been watching the twins. The chilling truth sank in deeper with each passing minute: they had been violated, their privacy invaded in the supposed safety of their own home. It felt like a direct threat, a message scrawled in fear on the walls.

As dawn painted the sky a pale grey, exhaustion finally started to win its battle with my anxieties. Just as I drifted off into a restless sleep, the sound of movement downstairs jolted me awake. The security team, Ivan had mentioned calling in some people, professionals who could handle this kind of situation. Relief washed over me, a temporary respite in the storm.

The morning arrived, the bright sunshine an unwelcome contrast to the dark thoughts that clouded my mind. Taking the twins to Natalia's had been a difficult decision, but the thought of them being in the house with the investigation ongoing was unbearable. Natalia hadn't even blinked an eye. Sure, there had been a pointed comment about me running off right in the chaos, but her initial anger had quickly melted away into concern. There would be a reckoning later, a conversation I wasn't looking forward to, but right now, I had bigger problems.

Natalia's house, usually a haven of laughter and spilled toys, felt strangely still this morning. The twins, bewildered by the change in routine, clung to me more than usual Natalia kept them occupied with coloring books and cartoons while I tried to focus on the task at hand.

Back at the house, the security team was already hard at work. Men and women in crisp uniforms moved through the rooms with a practiced efficiency, their expressions unreadable. Ivan was there too, but he kept his distance from me, a furrow etched between his brows. The unspoken tension crackled between us, adding to the already suffocating atmosphere.

After what felt like hours, a man with a no-nonsense haircut and a serious demeanor approached us. He was as the one Ivan had spoken to on the phone the night before, the leader of this small army that had invaded our home. His gaze flicked between me and Ivan, a silent question hanging in the air. This was it, the moment I had been dreading.

The man, who introduced himself as Mr. Evans, stopped in front of us, his gaze flitting between Ivan and me. His face was a mask of professional neutrality, giving away nothing of his thoughts. He cleared his throat and began to speak. "We've finished our initial sweep of the house. Unfortunately, we haven't found any signs of forced entry or hidden cameras." He paused, letting his words sink in. "All the security footage from last night is clear. No unusual activity outside the house, no break in attempts."

Disappointment washed over me, a cold wave that threatened to drown the flicker of hope that had ignited within me at the sight of the security team. "But that's impossible," I blurted out, my voice tight with rising panic. "There had to be something! The computer screen, the open window..."

MON, Chapter 105

Ivan placed a hand on my arm, his touch a grounding force in the storm of emotions raging inside me. "Amaya, let him finish," he said calmly. his voice a low rumble that soothed the rising edge of mine.

Mr. Evans nodded in appreciation. "Thank you, Mr. McCall. As Mrs. McCall mentioned, there was an image displayed on a computer screen of the twins in your room. However, upon checking the system logs, we found no evidence of unauthorized access. The image could have been anything, a malfunction perhaps, or even a prank." He hesitated for a moment, his eyes locking with mine. "As for the open window, a latch malfunction or a strong gust of wind could be the culprit."

His words felt like a bucket of cold water thrown over my burgeoning hope. Was he right? Was I overreacting? Doubt gnawed at me, fueled by the lack of concrete evidence. But a part of me, a fierce maternal instinct, refused to accept his explanation.

"No. You're not listening! There was someone watching us! Someone got into the housel And how is there footage if you took the camera out in the first place. Someone put another in their room."I looked back to the man, "Check again for the camera. Someone was in there!"

Ivan squeezed my arm gently. "Amaya, calm down. Let's hear them out, okay?" He turned to Mr. Evans, his voice firm but respectful. "Have you considered the possibility that the security system itself might have been compromised? Perhaps the intruder bypassed it somehow?"

Mr. Evans raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "That's a possibility, of course. Our team is running advanced diagnostics on the system as we speak. However, based on our initial findings, it seems highly unlikely."

"But you can't rule it out entirely, can you?" I pressed, my voice gaining strength. "There has to be another explanation! We can't just dismiss this as nothing."

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Mr. Evans exchanged a look with his colleagues, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, he turned back to me.

"I understand your concern," he muttered, his voice softening slightly. "The safety of your children is paramount. We will continue our investigation, of course. And if anything new comes to light, we will be sure to let you know immediately."

"But what about now?" I demanded, my voice laced with desperation, "We can't just sit here and wait for something else to happen! We need to do something!"

Ivan stepped forward, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. "Amaya, I know this is difficult, but we need to trust the professionals. They are the best in the business, and they'll get to the bottom of this." He looked at Mr. Evans, a flicker of challenge in his eyes. "Isn't that right?"

Mr. Evans returned his gaze, a wry smile playing on his lips. "That's what we strive for, Mr. McCall. Now, why don't we all take a break? We've been at it for hours, and a fresh perspective could be helpful."

He gestured towards the doorway, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before turning away. The rest of the team followed suit, leaving a heavy silence in their wake, Ivan squeezed my shoulder one last time before releasing his grip.

"Let's go get some coffee. We need to talk."

I stood there for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Doubt and fear battled with a fierce resolve to protect my children. Taking a deep breath, I nodded at Ivan as he pulled me down the hallway. We were far from the everyone now, tucked away in a small, unused room. He shut the door with a soft click, the sound echoing in the sudden silence.

He let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping. He met my gaze and for a moment, all I saw was naked pain in his eyes Amaya, This eyes know this is a terrible time to do this, and I'll probably come across like a giant asshole, but..." He shook his head, frustration creasing his brow. "I can't hold it in any longer. It's eating me up inside, pretending everything is okay."

lity I'd n I didn't reply, just stared at him, a cold dread settling in my stomach. There was a tremor in his voice, a vulnerability I never seen before,