The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 196

On the fifth floor, Palmer stood with his back to a sawed–off concrete pillar, where one false step meant a perilous tumble into the abyss below.

“Vocalist, you’ve got five minutes to make up your mind. Are you in or out?” sneered a member of the Westwood Mercenaries, their faces twisted with the anticipation of Imminent victory on seeing Palmer’s lonely figure.

Lyra’s heart pounded as she watched Palmer, trapped by a window on the fifth floor, isolated and alone.

Palmer was the picture of calm. There seemed to be a fresh cut across his handsome face so a streak of blood was trailing down his resolute cheek. That had made his gaze even more piercing and severe–a gaze that also carried coldness and malice.

Even now, cornered, he exuded that irresistible air of royalty.

If only Vocalist would agree to join them, he would be hers to command.

“You lot?” Palmer chuckled dismissively while methodically removing his watch and cufflinks and treating them like precious treasures as he stowed them away.

After securing his valuables, he rolled up his sleeves to reveal muscular forearms. His gun might be empty, but the thought they could easily capture him was pure fantasy.

Lyra grew anxious, “Just say yes, Vocalist, and we won’t harm you today! We’ve got the Abyssal Organization blocked; they can’t get to you!”

Palmer glanced at them with contempt, sending shivers down the spines of everyone

present.

“Now men from Westwood Mercenary Corps are causing a ruckus, and the Shadow Dragon Society’s got a death wish too? Or are you saying Yates and Arthur don’t care for their lives anymore?”

The leader, clad in a military coat and chomping on a cigar, retorted, “Once you’re dead, Yates and the old man will be safe.”

Palmer shook his head and said with a mournful voice, “I was just planning to clean up the Shadow Dragon Society, but now it seems I’ll have to take care of the Gruber family

too.”

Despite his loneliness, his icy gaze still made everyone hesitant to underestimate him.”

“Take him out now!” Those mercenaries yelled.

Lyra shouted, “Just agree, Vocalist, and come back with us to the border. The Westwood) Mercenaries will protect you!”

Then a cool, indifferent voice echoed from above.

1/4

12:53

right? The Westwood

just in time to see Noella leap from the sixth floor, landing gracefully

are you here?” Palmer asked.

a gun, “Heard your crew was held up, thought

hand‘, and that was the reason

surge of untimely joy warmed

smile on Palmer’s face–was dumbfounded. His smile was reserved for Noella, and that

venomously, “So, you’re here too. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down. You

seem insignificant, like nothing

That word doesn’t exist in my dictionary.”

her hands, and suddenly a thunderous explosion erupted from one of the buildings, which collapsed

are explosives in this

you afraid

bold enough to dig

ma

leftovers from a bar they’d dismantled, planted by Thorpe. If anyone got in

rifle at the leader of the Westwood

a chance to react, the mercenary leader clutched his

pointed the gun at Lyra, “Oops, how clumsy of me. Should’ve aimed for you,

right?”

our leader; the corps won’t let you off!”

the button for this building’s explosives again. Wouldn’t

12:54

added from behind her, “Doesn’t matter, we’ll get it

of the Shadow Dragon Society clenched his teeth, “Take them down! Don’t

in this place, they were all

his sentence, a bullet whizzed by Noella and Palmer and pierced his

can get a little overzealous. I’ll tell them to be

brought the Obelisk Organization with you? Damn it! Move, we can’t let them

Clap.

floor, followed by the thud of a woman’s body. Noella glanced dispassionately at Lyra, who lay

put a bullet through your head back at Lockhart Prison. What