The Killer Queen

Erek had been staring at Palmer for quite a while before he suddenly remembered that last time at the bar, his boss was dancing with a guy on the dance floor, and he even recorded a video, planning to post it in the Obelisk Organization’s private chat.

Look at that; even the boss had her romantic escapades!

“Never thought you’d have a fling with Abyssal Organization’s Vocalist. Boss, you’re…”

Erek gave Noella a thumbs up, his face beaming with pride.

That was their boss, nothing short of awesome!

A smile played on Palmer’s lips as he cast a meaningful glance at Noella.

Noella lifted her foot and aimed a kick at Erek. “Did you defuse all the bombs in the hospital?”

Erek dodged with practiced ease. “Ah… not yet. Thorpe planted forty–eight bombs in this hospital; I’m still on the hunt.”

Speaking of bombs got Erek steamed up.

Last time at the bar, Thorpe and Toxic Monarch were defusing bombs everywhere, and Erek spent the whole night defusing them instead of having fun!

He didn’t even have a second to say hi to the pretty boy who was hitting on his boss, talk about. infuriating!

Luckily, he got another chance to meet him, and he was even his boss‘ fiancé now. Just the thought made Erek excited!

“Nice to meet you, Mr Pollack. I’m a member of the Obelisk Organization; after you marry our boss, we’ll be part of the family assets you guys share! Looking forward to working with you, Mr. Pollack!”

Noella couldn’t hold back and kicked Erek in the back.

“One half–hour, miss one bomb, and you lose a month’s salary.”

“Come on! Boss, you’re heartless!”

Erek thought about his already pitiful paycheck, and with tears as wide as noodles, he greeted Palmer and headed off to defuse bombs.

Palmer called out to Erek, “Abyssal Organization has a member who’s good at defusing, too; go with him.”

“Aw, how can I accept this kindness? Mr. Pollack, you’re such a good guy!”

Noella glanced over. “Fifteen minutes. If you defuse fewer bombs than the guy from Abyssal Organization, you lose a year’s salary.”

A year’s salary! His pay was already peanuts!

Filled with righteous indignation, Erek left on his noble mission to out–defuse bombs against the folks from the Abyssal Organization.

Now, it was like he had a blood feud with the Abyssal Organization!

Palmer unfolded a medical mask from the desk and carefully placed it on Noella.

He was a good half–head taller than her, so he had to bend down slightly when he spoke, making it sound like his voice was coming from deep within his chest.

“Got a competitive streak with my people, too?”

“It’s only right, you wouldn’t want your Abyssal Organization to be weaker than my Obelisk Organization, would you?”

Palmer smiled, brushed Noella’s hair aside, and tucked it neatly behind her ear. “Of course not, but I just think that someone too weak can’t protect my fiancée. Abyssal Organization’s folks started off protecting themselves but ended up protecting those I want to protect. It’s the same with your Obelisk Organization, right?”

“Yeah, the same.”

Their kind lived on the edge of danger in the international warzones, amid blade and shadow, filled with desolation and blood–stained sin.

Noella had founded Obelisk Organization initially just to protect those she rescued from Polaris

Star.

She, too, was once part of Polaris Star; they were saving themselves, defending themselves, and protecting their loved ones!

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The year she was taken to Polaris Star, she managed to save herself and learned all sorts of skills with the members there.

When she returned to Old Mrs. Lambert’s side, she concocted a potion to conceal all traces of her assassin life on her hand so as not to worry her grandmother.

Old Mrs. Lambert said nothing, just hugged her over and over, saying it was good to have her back, her treasure by her side.

During that year, apart from Old Mrs. Lambert, no one sought her out!

Vincent and Belinda couldn’t care less about her safety, so much so that her multiple returns to Polaris Star went unnoticed.

Noella looked at her hands and let out a self–deprecating chuckle behind her mask.

At least she had protected her grandmother, and now there were more family members she wanted to protect.

Palmer felt the subtle shift in her mood and took her hand, enveloping it in his warm palm.

BLA

10:23

“Don’t think about the past; we have now and the future. Don’t be sad.”

Noella was surprised. How did he know she was reminiscing?

Palmer looked into those eyes that shimmered like glass beads, now reflecting only his image. satisfying his heart immensely.

He picked up a mask and handed it to her. “Would you mind? I can’t see my own face.”

Noella took the mask, a bit speechless.

Even if he couldn’t see his face, there were mirrors in the office; couldn’t he see for himself?

Meeting his expectant gaze, Noella took the mask and carefully fitted it on him.

“Let’s go; Thorpe’s little brother’s room is just next door; it’s just Thorpe and his brother in there now.”

Noella followed Palmer into the hospital room where Thorpe sat peeling an apple for a middle–aged man lying in bed.

Hearing the noise at the door, Thorpe immediately stood up, alert, with the fruit knife aimed at the entrance, on guard. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Noella ignored his actions and went straight to the man lying in the hospital bed.

“Give me your hand.”

The man in bed was pale, his lips tinged with an unhealthy shade of black and purple, and he reached out his hand to Noella.

Thorpe looked like he had seen a ghost, his muscles all tensed up and on high alert, ready for these two to make a move. But when the woman approached, his guard was totally gone!

“You!”

He threw up his hand, trying to shove Noella away, but Palmer behind him grabbed his wrist in

a vice grip.

Those eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, pinned Thorpe in place as Palmer icily said, “Mr. Thorpe, since you’re so keen on meeting Phantom Surgeon Lunaris, being rude is a no–go.”

“She’s Phantom Surgeon Lunaris?”

“Mr. Thorpe, with all your cronies lurking around here, you’re telling me you didn’t notice someone getting close?”

Thorpe grudgingly pulled back his hand, only to realize that the spot where Palmer had grabbed him had gone totally numb!

Among those who had crossed paths with him, only one person had the bone–chilling power and killer vibe to pull that off!

“You’re Vocalist! Since Lunaris is here, I’ll play ball with your demands, but for the life of me. I

10:23

can’t figure out why you’d want the director of Heartfelt Orphanage.”

One of the conditions Phantom Surgeon Lunaris laid out for treating his brother was for Those to hand over the director of Heartfelt Orphanage,

Palmer let out a scoff, planting himself between Noella and Thorpe, blocking any chance of Thorpe getting close to Noella.

His voice dripped with a chill that could freeze hell over, and his animosity towards Thorpe wasn’t exactly under wraps.

“It’s getting chilly; my fiancée hates the cold. I figured I’d make her a nice human fur coat and what’s left could double as a piece of art, a nice little knick–knack. What do you think, Me Thorpe?”

Human fur coat? Thorpe’s eyes nearly popped out of his head!

“Are you kidding me? You went through all this trouble for a fur coat?”

“Do I look like I’m joking, Mr. Thorpe? Can’t you tell?”