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)
“I’m good. Thanks, Zale. Rainier. Wayne. Whatever.” Her smile was still a little crooked, but her voice wasn’t a frog’s. Finally. She hated when she had no control. It was so terrifying.
Zale slipped his arms under her knees and behind her back to lift her. “That was a close one. Scared the holy hell out of me, Vienna.” He carried her to the master bedroom and put her in the bed, up by the headboard, so she could sit up. Retrieving a bottle of water, he handed it to her. “Why do you think Harold and Robert aren’t the ones responsible for installing the bugs and cameras through your room?”
She looked from him to Rainier, who lounged in the doorway. Beneath the old-man persona, she could see the lethal man he truly was.
“If there were several of them and well hidden, they couldn’t have done it. They had only minutes to search my suite for me. They entered directly behind me. I barely made it into my suite but had this overwhelming sense of danger, so I found a hiding spot and concealed myself. I wasn’t all the way inside it when I heard them talking. The one called Harold reminded the other one to hurry, that they only had a couple of minutes before the cameras were coming back on. I presumed he meant the security cameras in the hallway.”
“So, the cameras inside were already planted and they knew it and were jamming them as well as the ones out in the hall.” Zale turned another thoughtful look on Rainier. “We’re going to have to check our room for bugs, but for now, we don’t dare leave her alone. We’re in for a long night, at least until her friends show up, and five hours is a long time.”
“We need a rig for gear and clothes for the Airbnb we rented, so someone has to drive, but Raine could hook them up with a plane. Shabina might be able to as well,” Vienna said. “They’d be here fast.”
“Let me tell Sam what we need,” Zale said. “I don’t want you texting any of the women, just in case. I want you cleared as fast as possible. I’d rather you left immediately. I suppose I can’t talk you out of playing Wallin?” There was a hopeful note in his voice.
“Not on your life,” Vienna said. “I wanted to play him almost more than I wanted the money. In any case, if I win, I double my win at the table.”
“Do you think you have a chance?”
“There’s a possibility. I suspect he has a gift. Art does. I’m not certain Art is aware of it, but he does. Mine is developed and I work at it. I think Wallin has a different one and he works at it. That’s probably how he’s been such a successful businessman. I definitely want to play him.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
The room was spacious enough, but with security and the television crews surrounding the table, it tended to cut down on what would have been a large area and comfortable atmosphere. The table was in the center of the room, and they took their assigned places. She was across and to the left of Daniel Wallin, who was directly across from the dealer. She found it interesting that she’d been placed across from him. She didn’t mind because she wanted to be able to see everything he did when he played his cards. Clearly, he wanted to see what she did.
For the first time, she asked herself how he’d identified her when she’d played anonymously online. Of course, her winnings had gone to a bank account. She’d played in some of his online tournaments. The hotel certainly could have traced that account to her. Was that how he had become interested in her? She’d won every tournament she’d entered. That must have sent up a flag to someone like Wallin. It would have to her. It would have to Art.
She smiled cheerfully at those seated at the table. “We meet again. Leo, Jameson, Art, good to see you again.”
“I’m not sure I can say the same,” Leo told her.
Jameson laughed. “I have to second that, Vienna. But as always, you look beautiful.”
She’d played up her looks, something she rarely did. She didn’t wear a dress or skirt—that would be going too far—but she did wear a deep green shirt that made her eyes appear even greener than usual. Once someone discovered her large eyes, they found her perfect bone structure and generous mouth. Her hair fell in long silky sheets of platinum down her back and around her face when she needed it to. She was tall, leggy, walked like a model when she cared to in her pencil-thin black jeans—and she cared to. She’d take every advantage she could get.