Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“Lifting you up to put your nightclothes on you,” he warned.
Vienna clenched her teeth. Movement hurt. “I have migraine meds in the bathroom on the sink, Zale. Would you get two for me, please? I’ll be fine once I take them.”
Zale managed to slip her pajama top on her and lower her back to the bed. She buried her face back into the pillow. “Mom wouldn’t even come to the Strip, let alone to one of the hotels.” She needed to distract herself from the pain. Already she rocked her body in an effort to soothe herself.
“Vienna.” Zale gently turned her into his arms and held her up as he put the pills into her palm. “Are you crying?” He used the pads of his fingers to track along her cheeks where it might have been wet. “I’ll find a way for Rainier and me to get out of going tonight.”
“No, really.” She wasn’t crying. She didn’t cry. Her eyes might be leaking, but that wasn’t crying. “I’m perfectly fine. I get weak after gambling like that. Go do whatever it is you do. I can’t believe you got my mother to come here. That’s a miracle.”
Zale continued to hold her, his arms tight around her, one palm pressing her head to his shoulder so she was breathing him in.
“Wayne Forsyne was invited by Daniel Wallin to a party tonight. I think you were supposed to be there, Vienna. The players from the final table were going to be introduced. A couple of them are considered celebrities. We shouldn’t pass up a chance to meet Wallin and the personal protectors he surrounds himself with. They’ll be out in force.”
“I didn’t show Rainier how to walk properly with an injury. If someone knows what to look for, they’ll notice.”
“He’s been watching videos and practicing ever since you told him. That’s why he’s been in the suite instead of downstairs gambling. He’s a perfectionist, and your critique really hurt his ego.” There was a hint of laughter in Zale’s voice. “He doesn’t normally take on this type of role.”
“Neither do I,” Vienna said, and dashed at the wet running down her face. She pressed deeper into Zale’s shirt.
The last thing she wanted was for Zale to think she was weak, and yet here she was, clinging to him like a needy person. How was she going to explain it? That she had a psychic gift and it drained her to use it? That it made her cry? Had she already told him that? She couldn’t remember.
He laughed softly. “Go to sleep. When you wake up, your mom will be here.”
“You have to go before security catches you in here.”
“Rainier is in the other room. He’s having fun throwing his weight around. He’s got everyone up in arms over you being attacked in the hotel right under the noses of security. If you weren’t already being comped this suite, you would be after Rainier gets finished with his threats on your behalf.”
“Don’t let him go overboard. I don’t want to have to have television interviews or anything crazy like that.”
“You won’t have to go to the police to fill out a complaint, they’ll come here,” Zale assured. “And hotel security will back you up. Wallin most likely will pay you a personal visit to ensure you aren’t going to sue.”
Vienna flung herself out of his arms and back onto the duvet. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, go away. Just the thought is making me ill. I mean it, go away, Zale. If you see Mom, tell her I’m ten years old again and need an ice pack for my head.”
He bent over her and she felt his lips brush over the offending lump on her forehead. “I’m sorry I have to go, Snowflake. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I just received a text from Rainier that security is bringing them up now.”
“That was fast.”
He dropped his hand into the thick silky strands of her hair. “They’re worried.” Abruptly, he left. She knew he just went into the other room so it looked as if he was protecting his client, but she still felt bereft.
Then her mother and Ellen were there, one on either side of the bed. Her mother sat on the edge of the mattress, stroking caresses in her hair. The moment she felt her mother’s hand, the tears began again. This time she just let them fall. It was Ellen who found the ice pack to put over the lump on her forehead. She covered her with a light blanket. No one made her talk or explain anything. They just allowed her to rest and she was very, very grateful.
She had no idea how much time had passed when her mother stirred. “Someone is at the door, Ellen. Would you mind getting it?”