Ruthless Temptation (14 page)

Chapter
Fifteen

The
next two weeks flew by in a whirlwind of preparations. Viggo kept Madison in
the loop on everything, and they still spent as much time together as before.
Living in the same apartment with him was a lot easier than she’d imagined it
would be. She had her own space when she needed it, but most of the time she
was content to be at his side.

If
he didn’t like having her around all the time, he certainly didn’t show it. If
anything, she felt closer to him now. He referred to the place as “theirs”. He
also began texting her every day to ask if she wanted anything special for
dinner that evening, instead of simply making the decision himself. They ate
breakfast together before walking to work, and on days when he didn’t have
meetings, he’d eat lunch with her in her office or his.

They
made love almost every night, and Madison couldn’t get enough of Viggo in bed.
She’d always wondered whether the great sex at first would become boring or
routine as time wore on, but it hadn’t. It only got better as she became more
comfortable with him.

The
Sunday afternoon following her first full week of officially living with him,
they spent the afternoon working side by side, sitting on his bed, in the nude.
When she joked about making sure the cameras on their laptops weren’t on, he
told her he’d rigged hers so it would turn on at random intervals, but give no
indication it had done so. He also assured her he had it set up to broadcast
the video to all the Weathermen.

“
Pretty sure most of them, plus their wives and
fiancées, have seen your boobs several times today already.”

His
tone of voice and facial expressions were so convincing that she spent two
hours trying to uncover the software in her machine, with a piece of paper
taped over the camera the entire time. Finally he confessed he’d only been
teasing her, and she punched his arm, hard.

He
grinned, then put her laptop on the bed next to his, both of them still open,
and pinned her down while she yelled and squealed in delight. He ground his
cock against her pussy, pushing her so close to the edge of an orgasm she was
still moaning loudly and begging him to fuck her when a video call came through
from Ace.

Viggo
scrambled to put something on while Madison rolled off the bed and sprinted for
the bedroom where she kept all her clothes. By the time she returned, Viggo was
on a call with all the Weathermen, and she still wasn’t sure if Ace had seen
them earlier.

She
had shrugged on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, while Viggo was in sweats and a
shirt. He motioned her over, and after listening for a few moments, it no
longer mattered if their sex game had been broadcast to Ace when he had first
called Viggo. She was stunned by what she heard on the call. This shit had just
become real.

****

Viggo
could barely contain his excitement. “When will Dave be at the warehouse?”

“
Tomorrow,” said Ace. “How soon can you get here?”

“
I’ll make the travel arrangements as soon as we end
this call.”

“
Is Madison still coming with you?” asked Dominic.

“
Yes. Is Angela?”

“
She is. Stay on the call when we’re done, and we’ll
make sure the four of us can travel together.”

The
call ended, and once Viggo and Dominic took care of the travel arrangements, he
glanced toward Madison. “Sorry about the short notice.”

“
It’s okay. I’ll go and pack right now.”

She
rose and turned to walk away, but he caught her arm and pulled her onto his
lap. “Hang on a minute. Are you sure you’re okay with all this?”

“
Are you kidding? This is the most exciting thing I’ve
ever done. What do you suppose Ralph and Bonnie will make of it once they
hear?”

“
I have no idea, but I’m sure we’ll eventually find
out. Maybe not from Ralph, but Bonnie has a big mouth. I’m sure she’ll have
something to say about this.”

“
Do you think either of them will make trouble?”

“
We don’t care if they do. This is none of their
business. Bonnie no longer works for HCS, and Ralph is a small fish. He’s stuck
in a field office with nothing to do because he fucked up in Central.”

“
What
?”

Her
surprise was genuine. Viggo had always wondered if she knew why Ralph worked in
a satellite office instead of in Central. “He fucked up a major investigation
when he worked for HCS in Central. His management level was three steps higher
than it is now. This was not only a demotion, but a punishment.”

Her
pretty eyes gleamed with amusement. “I had no idea. But how did you discover
this?”

He
grinned. “I told you we have contacts at HCS. Based on what you recorded, we
know that Bonnie has been the one feeding information about what we’re doing in
the warehouse to Ralph. He likely thinks he can get back in his former
supervisor’s good graces if he rats us out. What he doesn’t know is that we
have the okay from the
director
of
HCS to do this.”

“
Does anyone else at HCS actually know that?”

“
I doubt it. You can understand why they wouldn’t want
to put something like that in the employee newsletter. All Ralph will do is
make more trouble for himself if he says anything. And if they push to know
where he got the information, he might even lose his job for discussing
confidential information with an ex-employee.”

“
Well, I won’t feel guilty over that. He brought this
on himself.”

“
He did indeed, and I’m glad to hear you won’t feel
guilty over it. Ralph started down this road a long time ago.”

She
shook her head. “Is there anyone the twelve of you can’t influence? I am
curious about one thing, though. How did Bonnie find out about the warehouse to
begin with? That wasn’t on the recording.”

“
We suspect Dave mentioned it before they had their
falling out. He and Bonnie used to be close, but all that changed once the
article surfaced. We have plenty of questions to ask him, including why he
wrote it.”

“
Any theories on that?”

Viggo
had more than a few, but nothing he was ready to share with anyone, including Madison.
“Not yet.”

****

The
train ride to Central took just over twenty-two hours, and the four of them
spent it in a large compartment taking turns napping in between the work they
did. The twelve Weathermen were trying to come up with word tracks to use when
speaking with the hackers and their associates. They wanted to present a
unified front, and didn’t want to risk one or more of the men and women using
what they perceived as a soft spot or weakness, in an effort to confuse the
others or cast doubt on what they’d found so far.

Blaine,
Dominic, and Viggo would be the last three to arrive, and the other nine had
already sent the group their suggestions for various scenarios. Blaine was
traveling from NorthCentral and would arrive before Dominic and Viggo did, but
the three had agreed to work on the scripts during their journeys.

Viggo
would much rather have spent the time in a private compartment with Madison,
but she had understood, telling him she knew this was far too important. She
spent most of the journey talking to Angela, who brought Madison up to speed on
everything that had occurred toward their pursuit of the hackers in the past
seven and a half years.

Before
they left, he and Dominic had discussed how much to tell Madison. Dominic had
settled the matter with one question. He’d grinned and asked Viggo, “Do you
love her?”

Viggo
hadn’t been able to fool his best friend. He begged Dominic not to say
anything, even to Angela. “I haven’t told her yet. I’m not sure I will.”

Dominic
had laughed. “Suit yourself, but you’re an idiot if you keep this from her.
Viggo Ingram in love. Man. I
never
thought it would happen. Never.”

“
That makes two of us.”

“
Are you unhappy?”

“
Hell no, and that’s what bothers me so much.”

Dominic
clapped him on the back. “Enjoy it. She’s a great girl. Angela loves her
already. She won’t hurt you.”

“
I know. I can tell.”

“
Then stop being a dick and tell her.”

That
was easy for Dominic to say. Angela knew his sordid past, and she still loved
him. Nothing that happened in Central would change that. But when Madison saw
Viggo Ingram in action—when she saw firsthand the power and influence he and
his friends actually had—she’d probably hop the next train and go home.

Their
hotel was close to HCS headquarters, but the warehouse was about a half hour
away on foot. They had done that on purpose in case anyone got wind of this and
tried to follow them. Julianne was the only reporter they were allowing inside
the warehouse, and she had promised not to send anything to her editor until
this was resolved one way or the other.

Viggo
and Madison had a suite across the hall from Dominic’s and Angela’s, and the
four agreed to get some rest before heading over to the warehouse later that
afternoon. Once Viggo checked in with the other Weathermen and let them know
their plans, he and Madison lay down together. She was asleep almost instantly,
and while Viggo desperately wanted to make love to her, he knew it was right to
let her rest. She’d need it for the task ahead. They both would.

He
pulled her closer and inhaled her scent, wishing he’d met her a long time ago.
Of course, she was eighteen years younger than he was, and meeting her even ten
years earlier would have made their relationship an impossibility. No. He’d met
her at exactly the right time in his life. A time when he needed a woman like
Madison to help him realize what was truly important.

He
listened to her breathing for a few moments, the sound and rhythm now as
familiar as his own, and then he leaned close to her ear and whispered. “I love
you, Madison.” She didn’t stir, but then he hadn’t expected her to. He’d been
doing the same thing almost every night for two weeks straight, always making
sure first that she was asleep.

Coward
. Yes, he was. A big one. Dominic
was right. If he told the others how he felt about Madison they’d all tell him
the same thing. Well, perhaps Blaine wouldn’t, but the other ten certainly
would. They’d tell him to get his head out of his ass and tell Madison that he
loved her.

When
this was over. He’d wait until then. To tell her now wasn’t fair.

Why not, coward
?

Fuck.
He had no clue why not. It was a stupid thing to say under any circumstances.
There was no such thing as the perfect time to tell someone you loved them. If
you felt it, you should say it. You should shout it to the world. She’d been
afraid to tell him, yet she had done so. To not return the sentiment was cruel
and cowardly.

Viggo
pulled her tighter against his body and closed his eyes. He needed sleep. When
they woke, he’d feel better about all this. And then he’d decide what to do.

Chapter
Sixteen

Madison
felt like she should be looking over her shoulder the entire time she, Viggo,
Angela, and Dominic made their way toward the warehouse. They’d eaten a quick
meal at the hotel, and Dominic had assured them there would be plenty of food
and drinks available once they were at the warehouse. From the way he and Viggo
talked about this adventure, it sounded like the twelve of them had planned a
reunion, not an interrogation.

Once
they arrived, she eyed the burly men loitering around the entrance to a
four-story building. From all outward appearances, the building was empty and
had been for some time. The men looked as if they had no place to be, and were
simply standing in front of an abandoned building, having a long chat.

They
obviously recognized Viggo and Dominic, because one of them gave each man a
quick nod. As the four made their way around to the back of the building
through a narrow alley, Madison gripped Viggo’s hand tighter. She glanced over
her shoulder to find one of the men watching them, his dark eyes full of
boredom.

She’d
ask Viggo later who they were. Right now, it was all she could do to keep her
food down. Her heart raced and her palms grew damp as Dominic opened a metal
door. They stepped inside, and Madison inhaled the smell of old wood and
something metallic she couldn’t quite place. Licking her lips and swallowing
several times didn’t dim the taste.

“
We’re meeting the others on the top floor,” said
Dominic.

He
led them to a freight elevator. Madison eyed it, and wondered whether at least
one of them should take the stairs, just in case the thing broke down and the
others were trapped inside. Someone would need to go and find help.

Viggo
must have sensed her hesitation, because he gave her hand a squeeze and smiled
at her in a way that made her feel like he was trying to calm a frightened
child. “It’s safe.”

She
didn’t answer. Instead she got in with the others and held her breath while
Dominic operated the controls. She didn’t completely exhale until the doors
opened on the fourth floor.

Blaine
Parker was waiting for them. She recognized him from his pictures online, but
they didn’t do him justice. The man was gorgeous, with blond hair that hung to
his shoulders like Viggo’s did when he wore it loose, and crisp blue eyes that
looked right into her soul.

“
At last.” He took her hands. “Finally, I meet the
infamous Madison Overton. The woman who has brought Viggo Ingram to his knees.”

“
Shut the fuck up.” Viggo sounded more amused than
annoyed, and Madison knew she was blushing, but there was no way to stop it.

Blaine
winked at her. “I have no clue what you see in him. If you change your mind
about him while you’re here in Central, I’d be happy to show you around
NorthCentral as soon as this is over.”

“
When this is over,” said Dominic, “we’re either going
to the surface again, or you’ll be dead in less than three years.”

Madison
shivered at Dominic’s words.

Blaine
shrugged. “Either way, I’d love to spend more time with Madison.”

Viggo
pulled her hands out of Blaine’s grasp. “Keep your hands off what doesn’t
belong to you.”

Blaine
raised his brows. “She
belongs
to
you? Something you want to tell the rest of us, then?”

“
Knock it off,” said Dominic. “Let’s maintain our
focus.”

Blaine
put up his hands. “Fine with me. Just trying to make the newcomer feel
welcome.”

Viggo
gave him a droll look. “Show us where the others are.”

Blaine
gave her another wink, then turned around. “This way.”

Viggo
glanced down at her, a question in his eyes. She smiled in response because she
had no clue what he was trying to ask her. Blaine’s attention was flattering,
but his words also brought back the reality that she’d told Viggo more than two
weeks ago she had fallen in love with him, and he hadn’t said one word about it
since.

Would
she ever hear those words back from him? She knew he cared for her. His entire
demeanor had changed in the past month. He’d gone from sexy but aloof to
attentive and possessive, but not to the point she felt he was trying to
control her every move or thought. She had come to rely on him for
companionship and comfort, but he’d shown her that he needed the same from her.

The
sex was incredible. No doubt about it. She’d miss it terribly if they broke up.
But it had been from day one. That wasn’t the only thing she craved from him.
She enjoyed his company. He was easy to talk to and easy to be with. He didn’t
make demands on her time, he treated her with respect, and he praised her work
in front of others.

In
fact, thinking over the past month, him pulling her hands out of Blaine’s grasp
a moment ago was the first sign of jealousy toward another man that she’d seen
from him. Was that because he knew more about Blaine than she did, and perhaps
the man had a habit of stealing women from the others? Or was it because he’d
meant what he’d said?

Did
she
belong
to Viggo Ingram? And what
exactly did that mean, in his eyes? Where did he see this going? She’d never
pushed for answers to any of those questions because all of this was new to
her. Madison had always believed actions spoke far louder than words. Viggo’s
actions so far had assured her that he cared deeply for her. His actions toward
Blaine reinforced the belief.

But
was that enough for her? Did she want and need more from him?

The
questions would have to wait. They had reached a metal wall with several doors
set into it, along a corridor that seemed to stretch the length of the
building. What the hell had this place been before?

“
Was it built this way on purpose?” she asked. “I mean,
was all this here before, when it wasn’t empty?”

“
HCS used to use it,” said Viggo.

“
For what?”

He
gave her a dark glance. “For exactly what it looks like.”

Angela,
Dominic, and Blaine opened a door at the end of the hallway, but Viggo held
Madison back. “Go on,” he told them. “We’ll be right in.”

Once
the others had gone inside, he cupped her face gently. “I need to know you’re
all right.”

So
many questions sprang to her lips, most of them having to do with the way
Blaine had behaved, and what he’d said, but this wasn’t right time. “I’m fine.
A bit overwhelmed, but fine.”

“
The second you’re not, you need to tell me. I won’t be
upset, okay?”

That
was exactly what she meant. The fact that he would care about her emotional
needs and make sure she knew she could count on him to attend to them. He
wasn’t the kind of man who would say something like that to a woman he was only
casually dating.

The
question was right there, hanging in the air above her head. She could see it.
And suddenly, she had to know. Damn the consequences. “Are you in love with
me?”

He
blinked a few times as she watched several emotions cross his face in rapid
succession, from surprise all the way to relief. She had no clue what he was
about to say, but just as he looked about to speak, the door opened again and
the Weatherman she recognized as Barclay peered out from behind it.

“
Get in here, quick! We have Dave. They’re bringing him
up now.”

Hooray for you!
Talk about lousy timing.

“
What
?” Viggo’s entire attention was now
focused on Barclay.

“
I said we have Dave. Get in here!”

 
Viggo
gave her an apologetic look and took her hand.

As
Viggo led her inside the room, Madison tried to take in the scene. She
recognized each of the Weathermen she hadn’t yet met from the video calls she’d
been part of.

Bottles
of wine and champagne were open on the table off to one side, and everyone had
a plastic cup in their hands. Next to the booze were plates of food, including
fresh fruit and pastries. They were all talking at once, and the atmosphere was
more like a party than the serious matter she had thought it would be.

Despite
the festive atmosphere, she’d never felt more alone. Even as Viggo introduced
her to Ace Easton, Emmett Radcliffe, Kane Bannerman, Damien Rivera, Addison
Carlyle, Barclay Hampton, Grayson Jensen, Oliver Fairchild, and Atticus Yates,
Madison felt like an intruder.

Each
man shook her hand or gave her a quick peck on the cheek. She’d met each of
them online already, after all. In person, they were gracious and warm, and
every one was more handsome in person than in their video calls. But all that
did nothing to dispel the certainty that she didn’t belong here.

These
men, with the exception of Viggo and Blaine, were married or engaged. They
loved their women with all their hearts and souls. She’d listened to Viggo talk
about them for a month now, so she knew that to be true.

Angela
looked so at ease with all of them, but why shouldn’t she? She was one of them.
She’d been accepted into their group. She was getting married to one of them.
Madison wanted that, too. She didn’t need an engagement ring on her finger, but
she did need to know that she wasn’t merely Viggo’s latest plaything. It was
likely the others thought that’s what she was, and the realization made her
wish she’d stayed behind in CentralWest.

This
had been a mistake. Nothing was going to happen to him. This place was a
fortress inside and out. It was guarded outside by men who were obviously paid
to keep intruders away. Viggo would have come home eventually, and then she’d
have known where she really stood.

These
were his friends. This was his cause, and she had no idea how she could
possibly contribute anything useful. She was in marketing, not criminal justice
or IT. She couldn’t do anything but watch whatever was about to happen, and
wasn’t even sure she wanted to do that much.

Right
now, all she wanted to do was go home.