Ruthless Temptation (19 page)

He
cut off her last question with a very hot kiss, and when he released her mouth,
she leaned her head against his chest and pulled him closer. It would all get
sorted out. For now, she could bask in the warmth of her man, and the certain
knowledge that their ordeal was over. They had accomplished what they’d set out
to do. They’d taken back their planet.

Chapter
Twenty-One

Two
days later, Viggo and Dominic sat in the lobby of the hotel where all the
Weathermen, their wives and fiancées, plus Dave were staying. They were waiting
for Angela and Madison to come downstairs. The women were going to lunch with
Harper, Liane, and Julianne, while Viggo and Dominic had a ring to buy.

“
Do you think Dave will get his pardon?” asked Viggo.

“Ace
said he pushed for it,
but it’s not high on their
list of priorities. They’re more concerned about whether to shut down The
Madeline Project completely, or to give the control back to a specific agency.”

“
NSSL is gone. Whom do they think will want control of
it?”

Dominic
snorted. “That’s the million dollar question. At least we had the foresight to
have Dave remove the virus. We should have had him shut it down for good.”

“
It won’t happen again. Julianne’s stories will make
sure of that. The public knows the whole truth now. Our government won’t be
able to ignore that. They’ll have to give control to someone who will safeguard
it as well as we would.”

“
Exactly.
We
should have control of it, not some agency they decide to form now that
everyone will be moving to the surface again.”

Viggo
nodded in agreement.

“
Did you hear what Rob did?”

“
Oh lord. Now what?”

“
When the US Marshals took him and the hackers into
custody, he told them he wanted his laptop back.”

Viggo
laughed. “Right. I’m sure Barclay still has it. We’ll tell him to run it right
over. You think we’ll see lawsuits out of this?”

“
No doubt. Why? Are you worried about them?”

“
Hell no. Not now. It worked. If it had failed, we’d
all be toast.”

Dominic
nodded, then smiled as the elevator doors opened. “There they are.”

Viggo
grinned as Dominic placed his hand protectively over Angela’s still-flat
abdomen. They’d made their announcement of her pregnancy in the room on the
fourth floor of the warehouse two days ago, as soon as Ace got off the phone
with the President. Then Emmett told them that Liane was also pregnant.

Angela
and Dominic had also told everyone they wanted to get married here, in Central,
as soon as possible, since everyone would be there soon. Viggo thought that was
a perfect idea, and he and Dominic had arranged for him to ask Madison to marry
him during the reception.

She
didn’t know he was doing it, and he hoped Kane and Ace wouldn’t mind that he’d
stolen their idea. Kane had asked Julianne to marry him during Ace’s and
Harper’s wedding reception. The only difference was, Julianne had been
surprised by the proposal. Madison wouldn’t be, but Viggo wanted to ask her
properly in front of everyone.

Once
the women left for lunch, Viggo and Dominic headed for one of the jewelry
stores that Barclay and Grayson had suggested they visit. As soon as Viggo saw
the ring, he knew that was the one. The diamond wasn’t the largest one he’d
ever seen, but he loved the cut of it and thought Madison would, too. The color
reminded him of her hair, and he loved the smattering of tiny darker stones
around it.

“
Those match her eyes,” he said, holding it up to the
light. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

Dominic
gave him a look that suggested he’d lost his mind. “I don’t know her as well as
you do. Do
you
think she’ll like it?”

“
Yes. It’s perfect.” He already knew what size she
wore, so that was no problem. The ring would be ready in a few hours. It paid
to be a Weatherman, especially now. Having rings sized could take a week in
some places, but not here. Not now. They were the heroes of the entire world,
along with Madison and Dave.

All
of them had agreed it was only right to give Dave and Madison credit for this
success as well, but in the end they didn’t include as much detail about
Madison’s part in what they told the public. Madison had led them to Dave in
the first place, but Julianne had kept the specific details related to Ralph
out of her stories. They also didn’t tell the world how Madison had worked out
the anagram that revealed who had written the virus.

Dave
had done the right thing in the end, but the public would never know it was he
who had written Tommy Twister in the first place. Ace had pushed for that
because he thought if the public knew that bit of information, it was far less
likely that Dave would get a Presidential pardon.

****

Madison
had bought a new dress for Dominic’s and Angela’s wedding, at Viggo’s
insistence. It was red, and she even had shoes and a new bag to match. He’d
also bought her a stunning ruby necklace and matching earrings to wear with the
dress, and when she’d asked if they were real, he’d rolled his eyes.

“
Of course they are. Let me spend my money on you,
okay? I want to spoil you rotten for the rest of your life.”

Meeting
Harper, Liane, Sela, Nadine, Rissa, Valerie, Blair, and Emma had been one of
the highlights of the week for Madison. All the women were gracious and
welcoming. They’d heard about how she’d recorded the conversation between Ralph
and Bonnie, and then how she’d solved the anagram, and they wanted to know
every detail.

Madison
was overwhelmed by how gorgeous they all were, and how happy each one looked.
She was part of them now. The women who loved the Weathermen. Only Blaine was
alone, but he didn’t look the least bit unhappy about that. He was clearly
loved by all of them. Madison had a feeling he’d meet a woman one day who would
steal his heart.

They’d
wanted Dave to be at the wedding, but he was still being watched by the
Marshals and was told he couldn’t attend. They’d allowed him to stay in the
hotel instead of the federal prison where Rob and the others were, but only
because Ace had talked to the President. Madison hoped Dave would get his
pardon. It was only right. He had been the one to shut down the program, after
all.

About
three hours into the reception, after everyone had eaten, speeches had been
made, the band had played two sets, and Angela and Dominic had been toasted
multiple times by everyone in the room, the band took another break and Dominic
walked up to the microphone. Madison thought he was going to make yet another
speech, until Viggo slipped away from her side and joined him up there.

They
both had that look on their faces she knew so well by now. They were up to
something.

“
Could I have everyone’s attention?” asked Dominic.
“Viggo has something he’d like to say.” Dominic bowed slightly, sweeping his
hand toward the microphone. Several of the women giggled at his gesture.

Viggo
stepped up to the mic and fixed his gaze on Madison. “I love you.”

She
blushed as everyone clapped and catcalled. When the noise died down, he
continued.

“
And I know you’ve already given me your answer, but I
told you I wanted to do this right.”

She
put a hand over her mouth as he pulled a small box out of his jacket pocket.
Dominic took the mic out of its stand and held it as Viggo got down on one
knee. Madison started to cry. She stood when he spoke again.

“
I love you, Madison. No one in this room ever thought
I’d fall in love.”

“
That’s for sure,” said Blaine.

“
But they were wrong.
I
was wrong. Too long I’ve lived my life for only me. Now, I want
to live it for both of us.”

Harper
reached across the empty chair next to Madison and pushed her gently from
behind. Madison walked toward Viggo on shaky legs. When she reached him, she
gasped as she eyed the ring. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry she’d
ever seen.

Viggo
gazed up at her with adoration in his eyes. “Do you like it?”

She
nodded, her voice gone.

He
cut his gaze toward Dominic for a second. “Told you she’d like it.”

“
Shut up and ask her.”

The
crowd laughed softly at Dominic’s admonition.

“
Madison, will you do me the honor of becoming my
wife?”

“
Yes,” she said, then cleared her throat because her
voice had come out in a hoarse whisper. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you. I love you
so much.”

Viggo
placed the ring on her finger, and it was no surprise that it fit perfectly.
She barely heard the cheering and clapping around them. He stood and gathered
her in his arms, pulling her close. She inhaled his scent, tears trickling down
her cheeks. The happiness she’d felt days ago in that bedroom on the third
floor of the warehouse was nothing compared to this.

This
would be the proposal she’d tell
her children about.
Their
children.
Hers and Viggo’s. And they’d raise those children on the surface of their
planet, not like moles in an underground city.

She
gazed into his eyes and smiled until her face hurt. She was so in love with
this man, and she’d spend the rest of her life making sure he knew that. She
would make sure he knew how very, very much she loved him.

The En
d

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