No Strings Attached

He clutched her wrist, the one that wielded the remote control, like a modern-day scepter.

As they tumbled down the slope, lan twisted with all his might, snapping Victoria's wrist. She screamed in agony, the remote slipping from her grasp. Their descent accelerated, and soon they vanished from view. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

A deafening explosion echoed from below.

Clara, sprawled at the cliff's edge, roared into the abyss, "lan!" Only echoes answered her call, accompanied by the rising plumes of thick smoke.

Clara's fingers clawed into the earth, nails splitting, bleeding, unaware as the pain inside dwarfed any physical wound. She lay there, boneless, lan's name a litany on her lips, tears tracing unnoticed paths down her cheeks.

a soothing balm, "Attorney Clara, our teams are on their way down. I have faith Mr. Hayes is going to

her anguish, Clara knew the grim reality better than anyone. Ian had rolled down with Victoria in his arms. The violent impact triggered Victoria's explosives. The slope was steep, so their separation in the

chill of the mountaintop bit through the fog that began to

over her shoulders. Ryker's deep voice reached her ears. "Clara, please wait in the car. I've brought my squad. They'll find lan.' Her cracked lips parted, her voice a hoarse whisper, "Ryker, he can't be

reassuring pat. "Don't worry, he's tougher

and his team plunged into

foggy

parts of Victoria's... remains. No sign of lan, which means he likely separated from her during the fall. He's alive, I'm sure

eyes. She wiped away

in the car. Ian wouldn't