The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 33

At the Lambert ancestral home in Linefort City.

Jasper’s hired muscle flew in by chopper and, while still several feet from the ground, yanked Vincent out and dumped him right at the doorstep of the Lambert ancestral horne,

Vincent, well into his fifties, nearly broke every bone in his old body!

“Dammit… Do you even know the law? This is assault, pure and simple!”

The bodyguard, sporting dark shades, Just gave a lopsided grin and sneered. “Our boss said we’re doing you a solid, dropping you home. You know exactly how you treated Ms. Noella–don’t play innocent!”

Vincent was speechless.

This was completely different!

Noella was just a heartless country bumpkin while he was the high and mighty CEO of the Lambert family!

After making the delivery, the bodyguard hopped back on the chopper and took off.

Blown around by the helicopter’s downdraft, Vincent’s hair was a mess, his suit was wrinkled, and his face was caked with dust and dirt, making him look like a beggar.

The actual beggars at the Lambert ancestral home’s gate nearly mistook him for one of their

own.

Vincent was fuming. He whipped out his phone to call the cops, but, of course, there was no signal!

Maddox, who was in charge of guarding the old homestead, spotted Vincent and hurried over to greet him.

“Mr. Lambert, why didn’t you give us a heads–up? Here to donate?”

Vincent was speechless again.

He was too proud to come back home without fanfare, always making a big show of donating like 30 to 50 grand, turning it into a spectacle the whole village knew about.

Vincent changed the subject. “How come there’s not even a proper road in this place?”

“Ah, Mr. Lambert, you’re here to fund road construction? That’s fantastic! I’ll go tell the mayor right now!”

Vincent quickly grabbed him.

“No, no, get me out of here first. My phone’s got no signal; I can’t make any donations to the village!”

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“What? Mr. Lambert, you’re also gonna build us a cell tower? That’s amazing!”

because of his

say he wouldn’t donate, and he really didn’t want to shell out cash for these yokels.

out of here. Does

to ear. “Sure do. Let me

What kind of

“vehicle,” Vincent

in Tranquility City, to become a known and respected

at it, the house seemed to have

planted Old Mrs. Lambert’s favorite osmanthus tree by the door–a mature tree of this variety

he was behind this renovation. Why would he spend

Rosenberg, out of respect for Briony, secretly spruced up the place to

thought about it, the more it

an amazing

it was still not to be underestimated, given its previous glory. Besides, they had always been a

had always been close to Milford, unlike Noella,

need to talk about Briony’s engagement

in his happy thoughts, Vincent’s daydream was shattered when Maddox showed up

actual ox cart!

ox clearly had seen better days, stopping to rest after every

this is the only ox cart we’ve got. Hop on, and we’ll make it to town by

was trembling. “There’s transportation

From there, hop on a bus, and you’ll be in Linefort City in no

Vincent remembered.

715

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Chapter 33

come back for years was because it was such a hassle to leave! Linefort City had no airport; he would have to take the rickety old train to

worth it since he couldn’t brag about it,

called out cheerfully. “Mr. Lambert, come on up. Once it gets light, the

breath, Vincent pinched his nose and climbed atop the ox cart, dodging cow dung and hay.

to a beggar, “Take Mr. Lambert

violently that Vincent’s sandwich lunch threatened to make a

Vincent’s retreating figure. He pulled out a smartphone equipped with satellite GPS and dialed

donating for roads and a cell tower on video. Sending it

“Appreciate it.”

split

a long time

Grandma’s house. It’s the least I could

at the video Maddox sent her and then locked her

nestled in the Linefort City mountains, where Old Mrs. Lambert had

days later, at Tranquility City

door and let the Lambert ladies walk free.

scruffy beard and looking all kinds of wiped, waited

at the sight of