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

did you take your

up at the sight of

Tavian from building three is waiting

knew Marcel was dodging the subject of

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

Grandpa. Be good.”

a face.

morning and had lunch with Beckett.

about the kidnapping ordeal. She could handle. Belinda’s

to the nines. I’ll send you some jewelry to play with,” beamed

Thanks, Grandpa.”

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

to make Marcel lose at chess all the time. This time he was determined to turn the

beaming with smiles, Heh, his granddaughter was a champ, winning every game!

the second–in–command of Harmonia Country, looked on with admiration. Judging the player by the play, Marcel’s granddaughter

“Noella, if you ever run into trouble, come to

was not having it. “Who needs

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

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

bowed to Tavian before

by a chilling aura. She sensed

green–lit emergency corridor, pulling out her silencer–equipped

the Schnabel

door, flinging herself at Sienna who was tending

bad news!! saw Noella being taken

million watering can

are you talking about?”

commotion, came out of the study with

country to buy Noella a

almost fainted on

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

ran home to tell Mom and Dad.” Yvonne sobbed, displaying her cracked phone and bruised knees, the unfortunate result of

a shopping spree, a nice

his phone and called the police.

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

mean, Jasper? Of course. I was at the