The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 136

After hanging up the call with Master Killian, the crisp chime of Noella’s mini laptop resonated through the stillness of her room.

She settled into her chair, booted up the computer, and plugged in a custom–made network card that granted her direct access to the shadowy reaches of the deep web, her IP address. completely obfuscated.

Even the sharp–eyed hounds from the Schnabel family couldn’t sniff out her midnight digital excursions.

A message from Erek popped up: [Boss, got the scoop. Ashlyn’s insisting on a hospital visit, probably ‘cause of that morning call from Vincent.]

[Vincent?]

[Yeah, the sleazeball seems keen on marrying you off to Ellsworth, that notorious money pit of a gambler. Need us to handle it?]

[No need to dirty our hands. Let Ellsworth’s creditors knock on his door.]

Ellsworth was up to his neck in debt, and those underground casinos in Linefort City had some ties to Polaris Star.

Back in the day, when Noella had learned the art of gambling stones with Master Hector, they’d dominated the underground scene with nothing but a deck of cards, inadvertently gaining some shady assets.

Thankfully, their operations had been smooth sailing, no

messes ma

Erek chuckled and replied: [Roger that, Boss. You’ve always been too kind. Phecda and the crew are retrieving Old Mrs. Lambert’s DNA as we speak. Now we just need Vincent’s. Want me to ‘draw some blood‘ from him?]

Erek had been itching for a chance to teach Vincent a lesson!

Without their boss’s discreet support, Vincent wouldn’t have made a dime. Yet, he mistook Noella’s goodwill for his supposed business acumen. Such a man belonged under a bridge, collecting cans!

[I’ll handle it myself. Where are they now?]

[Headed to Imperial West Hospital. I’ll be outside to cover you.]

With an affirmation, Noella closed her palm–sized computer, swiftly disassembled it, and transformed it into an inconspicuous trinket on her desk.

With everything in place, she slipped out of her room, unnoticed by anyone.

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West Hospital, Vincent, wheelchair–bound, was wheeled in by Belinda, with a few slackers from

nurse with a grin, “Excuse me, we’re looking for Marcel’s wife. Could

not visiting hours. Come back

Vincent was baffled!

end up in ICU? She sounded fine when he called earlier! If Ashlyn was ill, where would they

we find Noella now? I don’t care; she’s

was equally vexed.

hospital corridor, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure at the

me over

You’re the one who took her away last time. Remember me?”

with paperwork for Marcel, looked puzzled

this? He seemed vaguely familiar.

to jog his memory. “That time when you were gatekeeping for the Schnabels… We’ve

he thought about it. Noella’s father must’ve been a security guard for the Schnabels, which was how

“You’re Noella’s former foster father? I’m busy,

to Noella. If it weren’t for the watchful eyes in the hospital, Wren would’ve slapped them.

sensible, and yet they treated her

was reluctant to let Wren go. “Look, it’s like a family feud. We’re all Noella’s fathers,

Η

What do you want, exactly?”

his hands together. “Well, we heard about some subsidies at Emerald County. We did raise Noella for years, so shouldn’t we get

“Considering you turned down a contract worth a ten

Vincent was stunned.

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Chapter 136

What was it about?

exactly is the status of

could they

commandos. “Get them out of here.

them! After giving Ms. Noella a hard time in the past, now

The nerve!

me out! Tell me who Noella’s

I haven’t seen