The Killer Queen

As Thorpe looked up, the cold, dark muzzle of a sniper rifle stared back at him, poised like a beast ready to pounce. Hearing the commotion, his men streamed into the hospital room, guns trained on Ivan and Nolan.

“What is this all about? I’m working with Lunaris here. Are you trying to double–cross me now?” Ivan was unfazed by the threat. “Thorpe, not every job’s worth taking. Some money might look easy, but it could cost you your life.”

Thorpe frowned. He had indeed taken on a few jobs impulsively.

Cerulean Whale, shaky in its foothold within Harmonia Country, was in dire need of operational funds. And so, he had snapped up several jobs in the vicinity.

“Are there anyone that you need to protect in one of those jobs?”

Ivan snarled, “If anything happens to Ms. Schnabel, every last one of you will pay with your

lives!”

Ms. Schnabel?

It didn’t take long for Thorpe to realize they were talking about Noella Schnabel.

“Since when did the Schnabels need your organization for protection?”

Nolan deftly pushed Ivan’s gun aside with two fingers. “Mr. Thorpe, if you want to partner with Lunaris, we’re willing to extend some courtesy. But if the Schnabels find out you’re here, do you think your

brother’s safety is guaranteed? You might be fine, Mr. Thorpe, but your brother isn’t in any condition to move.”

Thorpe tensed up instantly!

If the Schnabels knew he was here, they wouldn’t let him off the hook! He had previously taken a contract to kill Marcel Schnabel, and not only had none of his hitmen returned, but the Schnabel family had also issued several warnings!

Beckett Schnabel had even threatened his life!

He hadn’t realized his target was Ms. Schnabel at the time of accepting the job. Now it dawned on him that if the Schnabels found out, he might not even be able to leave Harmonia Country.

“Don’t worry, I won’t lay a finger on Ms. Schnabel. Other organizations wouldn’t dare accept them either.”

Sweat was beading on Thorpe’s forehead. This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

Ivan tucked away his sniper rifle with a grunt and left the room.

Nolan’s face was all smiles, but his eyes betrayed no mirth. He was known in Polaris Star as a smiling tiger.

“Mr. Thorpe, do you think the Schnabels haven’t heard about the jobs you just accepted?”

Thorpe’s pupils dilated in fear!

At another place, Beckett rose from his chair abruptly, spilling his coffee all over the desk as he glimpsed the contract on the deep web.

Stirling looked at him with surprise. “What’s the matter?”

Beckett clenched his teeth and slammed his fist on the table. “Damn Thorpe! Does he really think the Schnabels have no way to deal with him? He dares to take a contract to kill Noella?

He’s asking for it!”

Stirling rose from the couch and strode over to the computer, his gaze deepening with menace. “Who posted the job?”

Beckett pulled up all the data he could find, squinting his eyes. “Someone’s wiped the data clean, but we’ll recover it. Once we find this person, they’re going to regret it!”

*Should we send someone to warn Thorpe? He’s getting bolder, taking our family’s contracts,” Stirling suggested.

Beckett chuckled coldly, his presence commanding, an aura of authority enveloping him. “We haven’t settled the score with him for the last incident with Grandpa. Since he’s so bold, let’s play his game and show him who runs Imperial City!”

“I’ll call Noella to make sure she’s safe.”

Stirling’s call went through quickly.

“Anything up, Stirling?”

“Noella, what are you up to?” Stirling’s voice was always gentle with his sister, a stark contrast to his reputation as an entertainment industry provocateur.

Noella glanced at Palmer, who was handling company finances across from her. “I’ve been helping a friend with Palmer. We’ll head home once he’s better. Why?”

Knowing Noella was with Palmer put Stirling at ease. Though he often found Palmer irritating and suspected the young man had designs on his sister, at this moment, her safety was

paramount.

“Then, enjoy yourselves. Don’t rush back. Be safe, and if you need money, just call me.”

“Okay.”

Noella, aware that the Schnabels must have seen the deep web alert and were calling to caution her.

Stirling hesitated before speaking solemnly. “Noella, no matter what happens, when it comes down to choosing between you and someone else, I choose you.”

He was aware of the trouble with Yvonne and the Nourishment Pill deal. If Yvonne’s involvement was confirmed, she would have no place in the Schnabel family anymore.

Noella felt a pang of surprise. She had wiped the deep web information to avoid burdening the family. Had Stirling found out?

“You may doubt our family. Noella, considering how your previous family have acted like scum. But we’re different. Trust me. No matter what others say about you, we’ll always trust what we see with our own eyes,” Stirling’s voice was as comforting as a warm blanket. “We’ll get to the bottom of every story, never led astray by idle gossip!”

Noella finally got it. Stirling was addressing the rumors Yvonne had been spreading. But honestly, she couldn’t care less. To her, Yvonne’s antics were nothing more than child’s play. her schemes as undercooked as a half–baked pie, and her wit on par with that of a scarecrow in a wheat field.

To avoid putting the Schnabels in an awkward spot, she’d taken to treating Yvonne’s approaches with the same attention she’d give a TV commercial–none at all.

“I get it.”

“Noella, to us, you’re the main event!” Stirling continued with the kind of brotherly fervor that could light up a room. “Even if one of our own brothers tried to mess with you, I’d be the first to set him straight!”

Noella’s heart swelled with warmth. Was this what being wrapped in family love felt like?

After the call, Noella exhaled a sigh of relief she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

A message silently made its way to Palmer’s phone. He glanced at it, and a subtle smile played on his lips. “Your brothers just texted me, making me promise to look out for you.”

“I saw.”

“While I’m glad they trust me, protecting my fiancée is part of the job description,” he said with a touch of pride.

Noella shot him a look. When did he become such a show–off?

Palmer felt a surge of pleasure. It was the first time he felt the Schnabel family’s trust without a shadow of suspicion looming over him.

He quickly texted back, assuring them all was well.

Ivan, standing at the door, gave a ceremonial knock before entering the office.

“Boss, Thorpe’s brother is awake. He’s asking for you.”

Hollis waking up was part of the plan, but to keep Thorpe from getting too savvy about Lunaris‘ medical prowess, Noella had played it coy with the timing.

The last thing they needed was Thorpe trying to poach talent from the Obelisk Organization. The headache that would cause wasn’t worth thinking about.

Entering the hospital room, Noella watched Thorpe practically bouncing around his brother like a hyperactive kangaroo,

She winced at the sight and discreetly averted her gaze. “He’s going to be fine. I’ve prepared the medication he’ll need,” she said, businesslike. “Now, you can tell me where the person I’m looking for is, right?”

The smile evaporated from Thorpe’s face, and after a moment’s hesitation, he managed to utter. “In the clink!”