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!”

1/5

12:26

Chapter 33

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

that Maddox! Playing dumb because of

say he wouldn’t donate, and he really didn’t want to shell

big deal to negotiate. Get me out of here. Does this village

grinned from ear to ear. “Sure do. Let me pull

kind of vehicle

“vehicle,” Vincent looked up at the

it took blood, sweat, and tears to make something of himself in Tranquility City, to become a known and

at it, the house seemed to have been

by the door–a mature tree of this variety could easily fetch 200 grand at

no way he was behind this renovation. Why would he spend money on fixing

Milford Rosenberg, out of respect for Briony, secretly spruced up the place to surprise the

thought about it, the more it made

an amazing son–in–law!

the Rosenberg family had hit a rough patch, it was still not to be underestimated, given its previous

to Milford, unlike Noella, who was

he would definitely need to talk about Briony’s engagement

thoughts, Vincent’s daydream was shattered when Maddox showed up

actual ox cart!

better days, stopping to

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

was trembling. “There’s transportation in

on a bus, and you’ll be in Linefort City in

Vincent remembered.

715

17-26

Chapter 33

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

him to donate for road 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

up. Once it gets light, the old ox has

nose and climbed atop the

signaled to a beggar, “Take Mr.

shaking so violently that Vincent’s sandwich lunch threatened to make

chuckled as he watched Vincent’s retreating figure. He pulled out a smartphone equipped with satellite GPS and dialed Noella.

got everything Mr. Lambert said about donating for roads and

“Appreciate it.”

wrinkled face split

at all. If it weren’t for your help, our village would’ve been toast a long time ago, not to mention the renovations you funded for the ancestral home and the village!”

the least I could do.”

video Maddox sent her and then locked her

City mountains, where Old Mrs. Lambert had weathered her whole life. Noella would guard it with her life, no doubt!

later, at Tranquility City

the slammer door and let the Lambert

beard and looking all kinds of wiped,

at the sight

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

of tears! He hustled back from Linefort City, burning rubber to pull every string the Lambert family had to