No Strings Attached

This was an unfamiliar number from overseas, but Edwin would recognize it anywhere.

His eyes snapped up, locking onto Clara's. His voice trembled slightly. "She's fine, how are you?"

lan's voice was laced with unbearable pain. "Give the phone to her."

Edwin promptly moved beside Clara, bending down gently. "It's lan, he's alright."

Upon hearing this, Clara's gaze momentarily froze. It took her a good ten seconds to process Edwin's words. She snatched the phone from Edwin's hand and spoke in a quivering voice, "lan?" As she called out his name, tears began to cascade down her cheeks.

lan closed his eyes in anguish. "Clara, I'm okay. We're on lockdown here, but I'll be back in a few days. Has Elude arrived?"

"He's here. Dad's surgery was a success," Clara managed to say through sobs.

"That's great. I didn't break my promise to you, Clara. Have you been eating and sleeping properly?"

just had a bowl of

yourself and the baby. Wait for me to come back, okay?"

will. We'll

phone, gotta hang

strength he'd been holding on to suddenly deflated. The phone slipped

if you check out, I'll have your son

respond to Ryker's threat. The light in his consciousness dimmed until darkness

"lan, wake up!"

Clara

lan's face desperately, trying to rouse him, but despite turning red from the slaps, lan

couldn't help himself and ran

lan found a phone on an enemy officer and called Clara. He just wanted to know she was okay and needed to hear

bullet might have hit the spleen. He needs surgery now, but the risk of infection is high here." Ryker asked urgently, "When is the medical