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 Mercenary

leap

are you here?” Palmer

Palmer a gun, “Heard your crew was held up, thought I’d see If you

that was

of untimely joy warmed his

seeing the smile on Palmer’s face–was dumbfounded. His smile was reserved for Noella, and that idea made her feel

here too. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down. You really think

contemptuous gaze made Lyra seem insignificant, like nothing

word doesn’t exist in

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

explosives in this building too, seems

explosives here? Aren’t you afraid of getting

enough to dig up public roads, what’s stopping

ma

explosives were leftovers from a bar they’d dismantled, planted by Thorpe. If anyone got in trouble with the authorities,

her sniper rifle at the leader of

to react, the mercenary leader clutched his chest and fell.

Lyra, “Oops, how clumsy of

right?”

our leader; the

which one was the button for this building’s explosives again. Wouldn’t want to

12:54

behind her, “Doesn’t matter,

teeth, “Take

really had bombs in this place,

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

can get a little overzealous. I’ll tell them to be more careful next time, maybe take out

brought the Obelisk Organization with you? Damn

Clap.

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

back at Lockhart Prison.