The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 17

The van jostled along, heading out of the city.

Noella noticed they were headed towards Imperial West Hospital, and thought, “Well, ain’t that a stroke of luck! These goons are giving me a free ride.”

“Who sent you?” she demanded.

The kidnapper let out a sleazy chuckle, his face full of creep.

“Listen, girlie, we ain’t lookin‘ to harm ya, but you had to go and get greedy, eyeing stuff that ain’t yours.” he taunted.

“We’ll just dump ya in some mountain area, and don’t you worry, you won’t be seeing the light of day again! Lucky for you, you’re easy on the eyes. That pretty face of yours could bring in a good chunk of change up in the hills. Pop out a few chunky kids, and you’re golden.”

Noella swiftly reached for the small knife tucked at her waist and conked out a few of the kidnappers, then pressed the blade against the driver’s neck.

“Who sent you? My patience is wearing thin.”

The driver, shaking like a leaf and gripping the steering wheel, stammered out, “Oh please, have mercy! We’re just hired guns! It was Belinda! She forked over a cool hundred grand for us to whisk you away and sell you off in some mountain dump!”

Belinda hadn’t said that Noella could fight!

With a nonchalant “Drive to Imperial West Hospital,” Noella might as well have been the Grim Reaper sharpening his scythe. The driver nearly lit the steering wheel on fire getting her there.

As soon as Noella got out, she shouted at the guards at the door, “They kidnapped me!”

The guards had seen her coming and going from Imperial West Hospital and knew her as the pretty granddaughter of the Schnabel family who was also a chess whiz.

The hospital guards were special forces soldiers pulled from the ranks for duty. They were used to standing guard.

Hearing Noella’s cry for help, the special forces guys stepped up and quickly subdued the bad

guys.

“Thanks,” said Noella.

“Don’t mention it, Miss. Get inside. Mr. Marcel has been fussing over you for ages. We’ve got this!”

They all thought highly of Noella, a real looker who was polite and smart to boot–a true Schnabel family gem.

No sooner had Noella stepped into the ward than she heard Marcel’s robust voice, “Where’s my

13:13

she

did you take your medicine today?”

eyes lit up at the

is waiting

was dodging the subject of his medicine. She

look and handed over the daily meds to Marcel

Grandpa. Be good.”

and pulled a face. “Disgusting! Why

shopping this morning and had lunch with Beckett.

kept mum about the kidnapping ordeal. She could

with that bore? Shopping’s fine. My granddaughter ought to dress to the nines. I’ll send you some jewelry

Thanks, Grandpa.”

another ward.

Marcel lose at chess all the time. This

Heh,

admiration. Judging the player by the play, Marcel’s granddaughter was a real catch.

Tavian offered, “Noella, if you ever run into trouble, come to Tavian.

was not having it. “Who needs

you kick the bucket or not. My word carries more weight.” said

I’ve got to settle a score with this geezer!”

bowed to

aura. She sensed the presence of an assassin. It seemed the Cerulean

pulling out her silencer–equipped pistol and

Schnabel

through the door, flinging herself at Sienna who was tending to

bad news!! saw Noella being taken

was stunned, her $3 million watering can

are you talking

commotion, came out of the study with the

Noella a castle in when Yvonne’s

almost fainted on

face, “Where did you see that? Why didn’t you call us? Why didn’t you call the police first? What if something happened to Noella!”

into a van. I was so scared and I ran home to tell Mom and Dad.” Yvonne sobbed, displaying her cracked phone and bruised knees, the unfortunate result of her joy at seeing Noella’s

Mall treating herself to a shopping spree, a nice meal, and a full–blown skin pampering session, all to be in tip–top shape to witness Noella getting the boot from

out his phone and called the police.

and said, “You’re only telling us about something that went down at three in the

mean, Jasper? Of course. I was