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)
Wallin was flanked by two personal protectors. Both men looked as if they meant business. They openly carried weapons and looked as if they knew how to use them. They didn’t smile, not even at the police officers, nor did they smile at her. They took up positions at either side of the door and just stood there, as if prepared to shoot everyone in the room if they dared to argue with Wallin.
“I’m appalled that this could happen to you in my hotel,” Daniel Wallin greeted her, taking both her hands and peering at her intently. His gaze moved over her face, dwelling on the dark bump on the side of her forehead. “I was looking forward to meeting you this evening, but certainly not under these circumstances. I’ve brought Dr. Miller to examine you . . .”
Vienna waved that away. “I’m a nurse, Mr. Wallin. That certainly isn’t necessary. I’m absolutely fine. I hit my head on the wall when I fell.”
“You should have been taken to the hospital,” Wallin said, turning his head slightly to give his security team a frown. “I viewed the footage several times. You hit your head hard.”
“Did you lose consciousness?” Dr. Miller’s tone was brisk, although his fingers were gentle as they moved over her scalp and temples.
The police officers had come close, poised to ask their questions. Vienna sighed, resigned to answer whatever was necessary to get them out of her suite so she could visit with her mother and Ellen. If she hadn’t been so exhausted, she might have protested more, but as it was, she was still suffering the terrible lethargy that overcame her when she used her gift at the card table.
The police officers took photographs of the bruising on her forehead, and after she told them Charles had used his shoulder to drive into her like a linebacker to send her to the floor, they insisted on looking at her stomach. Already, there was a dark bruise spreading across her stomach, under her breast and over her ribs. They took pictures of that as well. She was very glad when they finally left.
Dr. Miller continued to fuss over her, probing around the spreading bruise to see if she was damaged internally.
“You played your cards masterfully,” Wallin said. “Twice you stayed in when others would have folded, and you ended up winning. You didn’t have to show your hand because no one called you.”
She laughed softly. “Is there a question in there somewhere?”
Wallin laughed with her. “I guess not. Someday, I’d like to sit at a table with you. You’re difficult to read.”
“Only because I’m a newcomer,” Vienna pointed out.
The doctor was annoying her and she started to look at him, determined to tell him enough was enough, when Wallin took her hand again, distracting her. He turned her right arm over so her inner wrist was up. His thumb slid gently over her pulse. “I thought this was a tattoo, but it isn’t, is it?”
She had a small birthmark in the shape of a heart. It was even pink in color. Few people noticed it. She’d considered having a tattoo put over it, but she never had. The birthmark was slightly raised, and when she played poker, she’d had to train herself to resist running her finger back and forth over the mark. She still did it sometimes when she couldn’t quite “see” a card she needed to see.
“No, it’s a birthmark. Ow.” She’d been aware of the doctor wrapping her arm with a long tube and inserting a needle into her vein. She turned her head to discover the doctor taking a vial of her blood. “What are you doing?”
“Just making certain you didn’t get any bacteria when you hit your head, Vienna,” Dr. Miller said. “Didn’t you read all the papers you signed? You consented to a blood test. We have to cover all the bases.”
Vienna looked up at Ellen, trying not to laugh when their eyes met. Mitzi was right all along. Maybe she’d signed away her right to sue and didn’t even know it when she’d signed her statements for the police.
“I’m tired. If we’re finished here, I really need to lie down for a while.”
“Yes, of course.” Daniel Wallin stood, signaling for the doctor to finish up. “I hope to see you again, Vienna. Good luck in the tournament. I’m really sorry this happened to you in my hotel. If there’s anything at all you need, let me know.”
“I will,” Vienna assured.
Ellen walked them to the door. When they were gone, she turned her back to the door, leaned against it and regarded Vienna. “Anything you need as long as you don’t sue.”
They both burst out laughing.
CHAPTER FIVE
With six players left, Vienna felt the tension climb even higher at the table, although with the exception of Park and herself, the four other players were all professional gamblers. Art, Jameson and Leo had all won world championships multiple times. Theodore had placed at the final table in championships multiple times but had never made it beyond the third-place slot. She knew that had to be frustrating for him, but he was always gracious, always a gentleman.