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

take your medicine

lit up at the sight

Tavian from building three is

dodging the subject of his medicine. She gave the nurses

the daily meds

Grandpa. Be good.”

bitter pills and pulled a face. “Disgusting!

went shopping this morning and had lunch

kept mum about the kidnapping ordeal. She could handle. Belinda’s antics on her own.

to the nines. I’ll

Thanks, Grandpa.”

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

all the time. This time he was determined to turn the

was beaming with smiles, Heh, his granddaughter was a champ, winning

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

a chuckle, Tavian offered, “Noella, if you ever run into trouble,

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

bucket or

got to settle a score with this

nodded and bowed to Tavian before leaving the

sensed the

corridor, pulling out her silencer–equipped

Schnabel

burst through the door, flinging herself at

it’s bad news!! saw

her $3 million watering can

are you talking

study with the four Schnabel sons in

just discussing which country to buy Noella a castle in when

fainted on the

Why didn’t you call us? Why didn’t you call the police first? What if

and I ran home to tell Mom and Dad.” Yvonne sobbed, displaying her cracked phone

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

out his phone and called the

that went down at three in the afternoon?

Of course. I was at the hospital taking care of Grandma. Ever since she’s been admitted, it’s been