“I know. But then I went backpacking up into the mountains alone. I didn’t want to be afraid of a serial killer coming after me. I have to be able to go into all sorts of places without being afraid. I decided I needed to just go, to get it over with. I had built up a ton of vacation and I took six weeks, packed up and went hiking. Zale followed me.”
Again, there was a long silence. Finally, there was the sound of a door closing. “Sorry, someone came in. I take it you didn’t send him away.”
“No, he stayed with me for the entire six weeks. He was this amazing man. So intelligent, and you know how brains matter to me. He could make me laugh. And he was great outdoors. On top of that, he was dynamite in bed. He could light up the night. I had no idea sex could be like that. We didn’t talk about my home life or his, because I thought we had all the time in the world. For some ridiculous reason, I believed he was as taken with me as I was with him. I mean, he didn’t say so, and neither did I, but when he touched me, I felt it. So much for my intuition as a woman.”
Vienna was very proud of herself for keeping any bitterness from her voice. She didn’t even feel bitter. She’d been hurt, but she wasn’t bitter. Zale hadn’t given her false promises. If she had built a relationship between them, it had been all in her mind. He’d shown up, they’d talked. She couldn’t even say he’d seduced her. The attraction had been mutual. He’d been respectful. Careful of her because they were alone out in the middle of Yosemite. He’d told her he’d pitch a tent away from her. She’d been the one to make the decision to allow him to stay with her.
“What happened?”
“He just packed up one day and disappeared without a word. I mean, I woke up, he was packing up, he leaned over and kissed me goodbye and was gone. I never heard from him again.”
“Are you kidding me?” Stella sounded outraged.
“No. He really is one of the ghosts Denver was always going on about. In any case, he’s clearly working some job here. He signaled to me that he didn’t want me to acknowledge that I knew him. Or maybe he’s married and his wife is here with him. Sheesh, I never even considered that.” Now that she thought of it, she was alarmed. Horrified.
“No, he’s not married. Well, at least I don’t think he is. Now I’m going to go grill Sam. Zale Vizzini is Sam’s best man. I had no idea you even knew him other than for that brief moment at Shabina’s or I would have told Sam he was banned from our wedding. I wonder if it’s too late to kick him out. I’ll turn into bridezilla for you.”
Vienna laughed. “You can’t do that. I can handle it. It was just such a shock to see him.” She sobered up suddenly. “Although if he was married at the time, I’ll have to retaliate even if it’s in a childish way. That would be so disgusting. I do not mess around with married men. And that includes men in partnerships.”
“I’ll find out what I can and call you back.”
“Please keep what I told you confidential.”
“I’m very aware you’re an extremely private person, Vienna. In any case, you kept everything about me confidential,” Stella said. “I can’t wait to see you in a few days.”
“I’m looking forward to bouldering and some other outdoor adventures. After the tournament, I’ll need to be out of this building,” Vienna assured. “Don’t forget to text or call me back when you know something. I don’t want to be up all night feeling guilty if I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Will do,” Stella promised.
Vienna paced around the suite several times. She’d meant to stay in and just relax, but now she couldn’t. She needed action. Something. Anything outdoors. She would have to work tomorrow, starting early afternoon, and play carefully to stay in the game. She was playing against some of the top players in that world. She’d made it through to the semifinal table, a feat she was certain hadn’t been expected of her.
When Vienna first started, she’d had to borrow money to buy into her first online game. She’d won. She’d been able to borrow the money because those who knew her were aware of her uncanny ability to win at cards. It wasn’t that Vienna counted cards or anything like that, she just “knew” things. She had a gift, and over the years she’d come to believe in it and knew she could trust it. Because she saw her talent as a gift, she didn’t overuse it, and she made it a point to give back in some way.
She knew that when she entered the room with the other players at the semifinal table, they would all be looking for anything they could to help them get an advantage over her. Vienna had been in charge of others as a surgical nurse and also as head of Search and Rescue for Inyo County. Sometimes that would spill over to Mono County as well.
She was experienced in all-weather rescues, and could do avalanche control when needed. She’d climbed Mount Whitney several times and rescued more than one person as well as retrieved bodies when weekend climbers thought they knew more than the experts who warned them of the various hazards.
She had to make split-second decisions that could be life or death for others as well as for herself under extreme conditions. She didn’t give much away unless she wanted to. She wasn’t worried about the tournament. She had made it through to the semifinal table and had every confidence that she would make the final table.
Once, because she’d needed the money for her mother’s cancer treatment, Vienna had made the mistake of playing in person at some of the tables in Vegas, and someone had tried to rob her on her way home. As if she’d carry cash in her pockets. What idiot would do that? She’d arrived home shaken beyond belief, needing comfort from her mother, only to end up in a huge fight with her. Her mother had been her best friend all of her life. That night had changed her life forever. Vienna had moved out, and she’d never played poker at a table in Vegas again.
Vienna gambled online as luckypersiancat, a totally anonymous way to gamble. No one knew who she was or how much money she made. She no longer had to borrow money to get into the ten-thousand-dollar buy-ins with the five-hundred-thousand or million-dollar rewards at the end. She could manage that all on her own now.
Vienna decided to go running, one of the few things that could clear her mind completely. She drove out to Red Rock and parked, choosing one of the many trails that looped around. It was still fairly hot, although the sun would be setting soon enough. She made certain she was carrying enough water and had a filtration system with her just in case. She was a hiker, not a dedicated runner, and knew any injury could suddenly change everything. If she was caught out in the blazing sun without the ability to call for help with no water, she could easily lose her life. She’d seen that happen too many times not to prepare for an emergency.
Vienna had long legs, and within minutes she had hit her stride, covering ground with a steady rhythm. The sights were breathtaking. She wasn’t going for speed so much as just wanting to be grounded by the beauty and peace of the outdoors. Red Rock had natural formations of rock, with various colors and unusual concretions. Red dots were scattered throughout some of the rock, while brown rock balls were dense in others. Erosion caused many different shapes, from fins and spirals to caves and arches. It was difficult not to want to stop and explore them.
Shadows fell across the rocks towering above her at times, lending them different appearances, coloring them with darker varnishes, but she kept her pace even though, again, she wanted to examine them closer. Her friends would be joining her in a week or so for Stella’s bridal shower. Stella’s event wasn’t a traditional one. They would be bouldering first and then exploring the various scenic trails Red Rock had to offer. They would also do some trad climbing there as well.
Next—and all of them were excited about it—they would spend a day on the river kayaking, starting at Hoover Dam. They planned to find out-of-the-way coffee shops, something they all loved. It definitely wasn’t the traditional bridal shower, but for Stella it was perfect. They planned to follow it up with hiking and camping the Tuolumne trail in Yosemite along the river for an additional adventure before the wedding.
Vienna felt lucky to have five such close friends as the ones she’d met in Knightly. They had been unexpected—and wonderful. Five powerful women, women who made each day count. They shared the same interests and loved the outdoors. They loved to dance and often met at the Grill, a bar where they danced, drank their favorite drinks and ate the owner’s famous offerings surrounded by other locals. Had she not fought with her mother, she never would have moved and found a new life filled with friends and adventure. She detested that she’d never gotten back her friendship with her mother, but she truly loved her life.
Vienna was hot and sweaty, but felt so much better when she was once again back in her suite at the Northern Lights. After a shower, she soaked in the deep tub, enjoying the hot water on her sore muscles. It was nice to close her eyes and relax, to feel at peace again.
Wrapping herself in her robe, her long hair in a towel, she checked her phone. Stella had messaged her back. No relationship ever. Vienna breathed a sigh of relief. She wouldn’t have been to blame, but it would have left a bad taste in her mouth had she been with a married man, even through no fault of her own. She hadn’t asked Zale that question, and she should have.
Refusing to allow Zale Vizzini to take up any more time in her brain, she checked out the menu to see what really great dinner she could order. Everything was first class, including the food. She hadn’t been disappointed yet.
The door buzzed and she swung around. No one knew her suite number, with the exception of the hotel personnel, Zale and the gentleman he guarded, Wayne Forsyne. Maybe security was really going to lecture her. She hadn’t even told her mother where she was staying. She planned to visit her, but after the tournament. There were millions of dollars at stake. She didn’t want anything distracting her. Well, maybe she’d go sooner. She really wanted to see her.
Fortunately, her robe was the type that had buttons instead of a belt, so she was fairly decent. Vienna went to the door and peered into the peephole to see who her visitor was. The older man and Zale were outside the door. Zale was looking up and down the hall alertly. Something in the way he did it sent chills down her spine.
She hit the intercom. “I’m not exactly dressed for company.”