The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 33

At the Lambert ancestral home in Linefort City.

Jasper’s hired muscle flew in by chopper and, while still several feet from the ground, yanked Vincent out and dumped him right at the doorstep of the Lambert ancestral horne,

Vincent, well into his fifties, nearly broke every bone in his old body!

“Dammit… Do you even know the law? This is assault, pure and simple!”

The bodyguard, sporting dark shades, Just gave a lopsided grin and sneered. “Our boss said we’re doing you a solid, dropping you home. You know exactly how you treated Ms. Noella–don’t play innocent!”

Vincent was speechless.

This was completely different!

Noella was just a heartless country bumpkin while he was the high and mighty CEO of the Lambert family!

After making the delivery, the bodyguard hopped back on the chopper and took off.

Blown around by the helicopter’s downdraft, Vincent’s hair was a mess, his suit was wrinkled, and his face was caked with dust and dirt, making him look like a beggar.

The actual beggars at the Lambert ancestral home’s gate nearly mistook him for one of their

own.

Vincent was fuming. He whipped out his phone to call the cops, but, of course, there was no signal!

Maddox, who was in charge of guarding the old homestead, spotted Vincent and hurried over to greet him.

“Mr. Lambert, why didn’t you give us a heads–up? Here to donate?”

Vincent was speechless again.

He was too proud to come back home without fanfare, always making a big show of donating like 30 to 50 grand, turning it into a spectacle the whole village knew about.

Vincent changed the subject. “How come there’s not even a proper road in this place?”

“Ah, Mr. Lambert, you’re here to fund road construction? That’s fantastic! I’ll go tell the mayor right now!”

Vincent quickly grabbed him.

“No, no, get me out of here first. My phone’s got no signal; I can’t make any donations to the village!”

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“What? Mr. Lambert, you’re also gonna build us a cell tower? That’s amazing!”

Playing dumb because of his selective

want to shell out cash for these yokels. He

a big deal to negotiate. Get me out of here. Does this village even have a car?”

do. Let me pull it

What kind of

the “vehicle,” Vincent looked up at the Lambert ancestral home.

something of himself in Tranquility City, to

it, the house seemed to have been refurbished?

the door–a mature tree of this variety

he was behind this renovation. Why would he spend money on fixing up this rundown

Briony,

it, the more

an amazing son–in–law!

had hit a rough patch, it was still not to be underestimated, given its

Briony, she had always been close to Milford, unlike Noella, who was

he would definitely need to talk about Briony’s engagement with the Rosenbergs–can’t let a catch like that get away!

happy thoughts, Vincent’s daydream was shattered

actual ox cart!

ox clearly had seen better days, stopping to rest after every step.

is the only ox cart we’ve got. Hop on, and we’ll make it

trembling. “There’s

tractors. From there, hop on a bus, and you’ll be in Linefort City in no

Vincent remembered.

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Chapter 33

hassle to leave! Linefort City had no airport; he would have to take the rickety old train to the

construction, he thought it wasn’t worth it since he couldn’t brag about it, so he donated to Tranquility City’s overpass instead, barely making it onto the

cheerfully. “Mr. Lambert, come on up. Once it gets light, the old ox has to plow the

and climbed atop the ox cart, dodging

to a beggar, “Take Mr. Lambert to town.”

violently that Vincent’s

Vincent’s retreating figure. He pulled out a smartphone equipped with satellite GPS and

got everything Mr. Lambert said about donating for roads and a cell tower

“Appreciate it.”

wrinkled face split

all. If it weren’t for your help, our village would’ve been toast a long time ago, not to mention

house. It’s the least I

Maddox sent her and then locked her phone.

in the Linefort City mountains, where Old Mrs. Lambert had weathered her

at Tranquility City

the slammer door and let the

and looking all kinds of wiped, waited at the door.

gobsmacked at the sight of

you look like you’ve been through the wringer more than I did, and I was the one behind

was on the verge of tears! He hustled back from Linefort City, burning rubber to pull every string