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

they say she was on

take your medicine today?”

eyes lit up at

here, darling. Tavian from building three is waiting

dodging the subject of his medicine. She

and handed over the daily meds to Marcel

Grandpa. Be good.”

the bitter pills and pulled a face. “Disgusting! Why are you only getting here now?”

and

about the kidnapping ordeal. She could

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

Thanks, Grandpa.”

led her to another ward. “Come on, let’s go play some

the day. Tavian used to make Marcel lose at chess all the time. This time he was determined

beaming with smiles, Heh, his granddaughter was

Judging the player by the play, Marcel’s

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

having it. “Who needs your big talk?

the bucket or not. My word carries

old fossil! Noella, go play. I’ve got to settle a score with

and bowed to Tavian before leaving the

stepped out, her smile vanished, replaced by a chilling aura. She sensed

pulling out her silencer–equipped pistol and disappearing into

the Schnabel

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

saw Noella

can crashing to the ground in

you talking about?”

came out of the study with the four Schnabel sons in tow.

buy Noella a castle in

fainted on

a stern face, “Where did you see that? Why didn’t you call us? Why

Mom and Dad.” Yvonne sobbed, displaying

scoundrels plenty of time to do their dirty work, she even strolled around Rising Glory Mall treating herself to a shopping spree, a

phone and called the police.

something that went down at three in

supposed to mean, Jasper? Of course. I was at