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

granddaughter? Didn’t they say she was on

take

lit up at the sight of Noella.

darling. Tavian from building three is waiting to play

knew Marcel was dodging the subject of his medicine. She gave the

the daily meds to Marcel and said, “Take your medicine.

Grandpa. Be good.”

the bitter pills and pulled a face. “Disgusting! Why

morning and had lunch

the kidnapping ordeal. She could handle. Belinda’s

bore? Shopping’s fine. My granddaughter ought to dress to the

Thanks, Grandpa.”

another ward. “Come on,

at chess all the time. This time

games, Marcel’s face was beaming with smiles, Heh, his

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

you ever run into trouble, come to Tavian. I’ll fix it for you!”

it. “Who needs your big

the bucket or not.

I’ve got to settle

bowed to Tavian before leaving the

She sensed the presence of an assassin. It seemed the Cerulean Whale had sent their

green–lit emergency corridor, pulling out her silencer–equipped pistol and disappearing into the

Schnabel

at Sienna who was tending to her

saw Noella being taken away!”

$3 million watering can crashing to the ground in

are you talking

of the study with the four

country to buy Noella a castle

almost fainted on

asked with a stern 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

saw Noella getting into a van. I was so scared and I ran home to tell Mom and Dad.” Yvonne sobbed, displaying her cracked phone

to a shopping spree, a nice meal, and a full–blown skin pampering session, all to be in tip–top

phone and

down at three

a pitiful tone, “What’s that supposed to mean, Jasper? Of course. I was at the hospital taking care of Grandma. Ever since she’s been admitted, it’s been