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 was

did you take your

up at the

here, darling. Tavian from building three is waiting to play chess

Marcel was dodging the subject

meds to Marcel and said, “Take your medicine.

Grandpa. Be good.”

face. “Disgusting! Why are

shopping this morning and had

Marcel she kept mum about the kidnapping ordeal. She could handle. Belinda’s

dress to the

Thanks, Grandpa.”

another ward. “Come on, let’s go

lose at chess all the time. This time he was determined to turn the tables!

games, Marcel’s face was beaming with smiles, Heh, his granddaughter was a champ, winning every

Country, looked on with admiration. Judging the player

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

it. “Who needs your big talk? I’m still kicking!”

bucket or not. My word carries more weight.” said

Noella, go play. I’ve got to settle

nodded and bowed to

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

green–lit emergency corridor, pulling out her

the Schnabel Mansion

flinging herself at Sienna who was tending to

bad news!! saw

was stunned, her $3 million watering can crashing to the ground in pieces.

are you talking

the commotion, came out of the study

country to buy Noella a castle in when Yvonne’s panicked. words hit

almost fainted on the

call us? Why didn’t you call the police

Mom and Dad.” Yvonne sobbed, displaying her cracked phone and bruised knees,

their dirty work, she even strolled around Rising Glory Mall treating herself to a shopping spree, a nice meal, and a full–blown skin

out his phone

down at three in the afternoon? What the

said in a pitiful tone, “What’s that supposed to mean, Jasper? Of course.