The Killer Queen

To keep Palmer at the estate, Larson actually prepared a veritable feast of comforts and amenities in the villa.

if Palmer walked out today, any future attempts to meddle with him would be even more of an uphill battle!

Palmer looked squarely at Larson, a chilling smirk playing across his lips.

“Thinking you can keep me here with this crew? I’m afraid you’re sorely mistaken. He said.

1 mean no disrespect. This is our own little shindig, you know. It’d be quite rude to bail on us now…”

Palmer couldn’t be bothered with idle chitchat, “Pull the wool over someone else’s eyes if you must, but don’t kid yourself.”

“What are you insinuating?” Larson asked,

Had Palmer caught on to his elaborate setup? But he had deployed cadres of hitmen!

He had put a lot of capital on the line to ensure Palmer would never return to the Pollack Group. Larson couldn’t believe all his schemes had been unveiled….

Palmer snapped his fingers, and seconds later, the estate’s perimeter erupted in explosive blasts. The chandeliers in the banquet hall swayed violently and plaster showered from the walls.

The blasts kept coming, one after the other, the closest at the garden just outside the hall.

That was where Larson had stationed a cadre of hitmen…

Beckett scrambled to grab his sister, only to clutch at the air, he tumed to see Noella already in Palmer’s protective grasp.

Palmer’s hand shielded Noella’s ears, his suit jacket enveloping her to safeguard her with utmost care.

Beckett stared at his empty palm with a cocktail of emotions brewing inside him.

It should’ve been heartwarming to see Palmer instinctively protect his sister, but damn, why did it leave such a sour taste? The explosions outside sent Larson into a full–blown panic.

He could tell, every blast was right where he’d placed his hitmen.

Larson gritted his teeth so hard he nearly tasted blood, “Palmer You’ve got a heart of stone!”

The loss was hemorrhaging his finances; those were high–ticket hitmen

Palmer, half–carrying Noella, had strode out of the banquet hall and slid into the car waiting curbside.

Beckett followed close behind, his gaze filled with concem for Noella.

“Noella, you alright?” he asked.

Tm fine”

This sort of chaos was nothing new to her. Only the Schnabels would think she’d be scared

Beckett frowned at Palmer with disagreement, Mr. Pollack, don’t drag Noella into this madness again! It’s far too dangerous!”

He was taken aback when the blasts rang out–shocked by Palmer’s audacity to blow up L Larson’s estate right in the middle of a party. And then there was the fear for Noella’s safety.

The more Beckett thought about it, the more he shuddered at the close call.

“If you’re handling Pollack family business, Mr. Pollack, don’t gamble with Noella’s safety. She’s our family’s treasure. If anything happened to her, you couldn’t afford the loss!”

Palmers icy gaze met Beckett’s, a silent clash in the air.

Til keep Noella safe. No one can harm her with me around. Mr. Schnabel, I know you want to protect her, but remember, you need to know she’s not a delicate girl. Hasn’t she faced dangers returning to the Schnabel clan?”

Beckett knew the perils that came with being a Schnabel better than anyone

Noella smiled gently at her brother’s pained and apologetic expression.

“I’m okay. Beckett Palmer briefed me on the plan beforehand, so I wasn’t scared. I don’t want to be a burden to you guys. I’m a Schnabel, too, so don’t worry about me.

In truth, she could handle more than Beckett imagined, if not for the fear of alarming the Schnabels

Beckett’s heart melted at his sister’s sweet demeanor and her moist eyes. And now he felt quiltier

How could she be so dam endearing? Her words nearly brought him to tears.

He tousled Noella’s hair with a heavy hand, pushing back the tears welling in his eyes.

“Sorry, Noella. I haven’t been there enough. Whatever you want to do from now on, I’ve got your back!”

“Thanks, Beckett. Noella replied

Annie, from the diver’s seat, waited until they were done before piping up, “Um, are Dr. Schnabel and Ms. Gruber still back at the

Larson’s?”

The detonation points had been set in advance, and Malvina and Ulrich had left the hall before the chaos ensued.

An accident involving them would’ve been disastrous.

Beckett waved it off nonchalantly, “No worries, a few little bangs are nothing. Noella’s not scared, so what’s there for a grown man to fear? Forget about him. Noella’s hungry. That’s what matters most!”

Annie thought, Your tune was quite different just a moment ago!

Ulrich, still back at the bombed estate, didn’t seem to matter as much as Noella needing to eat.

It was clear the Schnabels had their favorites!

Meanwhile, at Larson’s ravaged estate.

After the dust and noise had settled, two muddy figures crawled out from the ruins of what was once a pristine garden.

Ulrich spat out the dirt from his mouth, his once white shirt now a sodden mess of earth and grime.

“Are you okay?” he asked, removing his coat to cover Malvina’s head.

Tm fine, but Dr. Schnabel, you look like you’ve been through the wringer…

Ulrich followed Malvina’s gaze and only then realized that his shirt had been torn to shreds by flying debris, hanging off him in tatters and revealing the well–toned muscles underneath, which made him look like a beggar.

Anyone who didn’t know better might think he’d gone back to his days as a doctor in the intemational warzone, constantly dodging bullets at the border.

Malvina, shielded by Ulrich, was unscathed.

Uinch quickly covered Malvina’s eyes and turned her head to look elsewhere, then shook off muddy trench coat and put it back on.

Malvina blinked and said, “Dr. Schnabel, you didn’t have to worry about me! My place used to blow up all the time so I’m used to it! How much did that shirt cost? I’ll pay for it or get you a new one!”

“Zip it”

She wouldn’t have mentioned the shirt. It had made Ulrich’s face burn with embarrassment!

How humiliating he felt

“As your attending doctor I don’t want you ending up in the hospital again. Dealing with a disobedient patient like you is a headache! don’t need.” He said.

all villa on the estat Malvina didn’t dare to speak further, instead she crouched and tugged an Ulrich’s sleeve, leading him to a small NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Larson’s estate was m

made up of a series of terraced villas, and at the moment, most of the people were in the banquet hall.

Malvina had already scoped out the place.

“This area houses Larson’s secretaries, drivers, and bodyguards. He doesn’t trust them living too far away since he fears betrayal. So, Luther should be staying around here too.”

Ulrich looked down at Malvina’s hand clutching his sleeve and the comers of his mouth curled slightly into a smile

Malvina stopped in front of a door her ear pressed against it, listening to the fierce argument raging inside.

“I don’t care what you do with those two kids!”

“You don’t care? If you don’t, i spill all the dirt your sister has done with the Schnabel family.”

“Are you insane?! If the Schnabels find out about those deeds, it’s not just you and me that are done for Larson himself won’t survive it”