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?"

bowl of beef stew and half a dozen dinner

me to come back, okay?"

We'll wait for

phone, gotta hang

suddenly deflated. The phone

Ryker shouted, "lan, if you check out, I'll have your

didn't respond to Ryker's threat. The light in his consciousness

"lan, wake up!"

can't die. What about Clara and the kid? Come on,

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

chaos of war again. Children screamed throughout the conflict zone. Ian couldn't help himself and ran back to save them, getting struck by a bullet in

Clara.

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