Ruthless Temptation

by Ravenna Tate

  “Ten minutes to go,” said Ace.

  ****

  This was the longest fifteen minutes of Madison’s life. Her hand hurt from grasping Viggo’s so tightly, but she was afraid to let go of it. Was this real? Had the program really shut itself down on Dave’s command? Would it stop everything if he told it to, once it resumed activity again?

  What would happen then? Would Viggo still want to marry her? She glanced up at him, his face filled with as much apprehension and hope as everyone’s. He hadn’t only asked her out of desperation, had he? No. She was being ridiculous. He loved her. She was sure of it.

  As if sensing her fear, he glanced down at her and smiled. She returned the gesture, her heart overflowing with joy once more. Everything was fine between them. She needed to concentrate on this program being shut down. This had to work.

  “Five minutes.”

  There was no storm activity on the radar. It was almost too good to believe. Could it really be possible that she’d be on the surface once more, and that the weather would return to normal? She swallowed hard against the sudden lump in her throat as an image of her family floated through her mind. She wished they were here now to see this.

  So many people in this room had lost family members and friends almost eight years ago. Madison wondered whether they were all thinking about them now, and wishing they could witness the end of the chaos. For she knew it was over. She knew it as surely as she knew she would spend the rest of her life with Viggo.

  “One minute.”

  No one moved. She couldn’t even hear anyone breathing. She glanced at the digital clock on the wall, and when it flipped over to the next minute, a collective gasp went around the room. She cut her gaze toward the screen showing the radar images, and watched as storms formed again, as quickly as they’d disappeared.

  Excited chatter broke out among the group, and this time it was Dave who shouted for silence. “It’s not quite over yet. Now I’m going to tell the program to cease all activity and give me back manual control. This is the real test, right here.”

  Madison couldn’t take it. She was sure she’d faint. Viggo released her hand and put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. “It’s all right,” he whispered. “No matter what happens, I’m here with you forever.”

  “I love you,” she whispered back.

  “I love you, too.”

  Dave typed in the instructions and then stood, waiting with the rest of them. Madison counted the seconds in her head. Ten … fifteen … twenty. She saw writing on the screen in front of Dave, but couldn’t read the words.

  “Yes! Oh my fucking lord yes!”

  “It’s shut down!” shouted Ace. “Merrill, look at the radar!”

  The storm activity disappeared once more, and all Madison saw through the others crowding in were normal clouds.

  “It’s gone,” said Merrill. “It really worked! Hang on. I’m going topside and taking the camera.”

  Dave stared at the screen in front of him, shaking his head. His back was to Madison, but she swore he was crying. Ace and Emmett stood on either side of him, shaking his hands and clapping him on the back over and over.

  “Did he tell it to shut down for good?” asked Madison.

  “No, but it ceased activity like he asked it to, and he has manual control.”

  “Do you want him to have that?”

  Viggo smiled. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure that out in a minute. Let’s watch Merrill go to the surface.”

  Merrill showed them the surface, which was always a shock to Madison when she saw pictures of it posted online. It was a barren wasteland compared to what she remembered, and her heart broke at the sight of it. Then Merrill pointed the camera toward the sky, where all she saw were light, wispy clouds. What month was it? December. He was in what used to be Tennessee, so it should be cool, and there might even be snow on the ground, under normal circumstances.

  “Nothing up there,” he said. “Only a few clouds. And listen.” He stopped talking for a few seconds. “That horrible howling wind sound is gone!”

  “That was likely the echo of the fields,” said Dave.

  “Thanks, Merrill,” said Ace. “Your name will go down in history.”

  Merrill chuckled. “If you say so. What happens next?”

  “I need to call the President.”

  Madison cut her gaze toward Viggo. “He knows the President of the United States?”

  Viggo grinned. “We all do, love.”

  “Holy shit.”

  “Sit tight, Merrill,” said Emmett. “There are a lot of decisions to be made now.”

  “You know where to find me.”

  Viggo pulled Madison into his arms. “It’s over, love. It’s really over.”

  “But what happens now?”

  He grinned down at her. “Now, we wait for everyone else to arrive. And then, we have the biggest party this world has ever seen.”

  “But I mean, what happens?” She glanced over at Ace who was already on the phone. “Is he really talking to…” She shook her head slightly. All the power in this room made her dizzy. “What will all of you do now? Will you move back to the surface? Who has jurisdiction over The Madeline Project? Who is going to tell everyone what happened here? What happens to Dave? What about—”

  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 duri
ng 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 End

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  Other Books by Ravenna Tate:

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