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?"

Want to save him? Have lan rustle up ten million for me, or I'll be taking your beloved dad down to hell with me." Clara felt the strength drain from her body. She collapsed onto the bed, her voice trembling. "Victoria, don't you dare touch my dad.

lan, who had been in the kitchen whipping up pancakes, rushed over and snatched the phone from

said icily, "if you lay a finger on him, I

sneered, "lan, prepare ten million. Get me out of the country, or I'll make your

"Don't you dare!"

stopping me? She's not my flesh and

"Victoria!"

hear this, clenching his jaw as he spoke into the phone, "Give me the location. I'll arrange

The call ended abruptly.

uniform, and fooled the

Victoria's suicide was a sham. Her real plan

Clara's side these last few days, she might have been the one taken. "She's kidnapped Casey. Get a chopper and ten million in cash ready.