No Strings Attached

"Alright, I'm on it."

lan hung up the phone and remained silent for a few seconds. His people had just made contact with Victoria, and before they could pry any useful information from her lips, she had landed in trouble.

There was no way this was just a coincidence. Someone with a long reach was pulling strings from behind the scenes, all the way into the prison. Was it an attempt to silence someone for good, or was there another agenda at play?

lan glanced at Clara, a sinking feeling in his gut. "Clara," he called softly, "stay by my side for the next few days. Don't go anywhere on your own."

Clara had overheard the phone call. She knew what lan was worried about. So, without any objection, she obediently nodded.

For several days straight, lan stayed at Clara's place. Although they slept in separate bedrooms, their relationship had warmed considerably.

Just when they thought this ordeal might be behind them, Clara's phone rang early one morning. It was her dad. With affection, she answered, "Dad?"

down to hell with me." Clara felt the strength drain from her body. She collapsed onto the bed, her voice trembling.

been in the kitchen whipping up pancakes, rushed over and snatched the

icily, "if you lay a finger on him, I swear you'll

me out of the country, or I'll make your woman

"Don't you dare!"

She's not my flesh and blood.

"Victoria!"

away from Clara so she wouldn't hear this, clenching his jaw as he spoke into the phone, "Give me the location. I'll arrange

The call ended abruptly.

phone rang. "Mr. Hayes, Victoria knocked out a nurse, switched into her uniform, and fooled the guards at the

Her real plan

few days, she might have been the one taken. "She's kidnapped Casey. Get a chopper and ten million in cash ready. I'm going