Page 60 of Anarchy Missing

“It’s the corporate dining room. But the food is good.” I shrug.

She tsks her tongue. “You can admit it, you know.”

“Admit what?” I ask, suspicious as I gaze out at Cathedral City.

“That you only invited me here for a nooner.”

I really do laugh at that. “You knew? And you came anyway?”

I can see her smile in the glass. “I came anyway. Was really looking forward to it, actually. But since you want me to go…”

We both go silent. Then we sigh.

“I don’t want you to leave,” I say. “You’re like the only thing I care about. I’ve never stopped wondering… what if, you know? What if you didn’t leave? What if we had a real chance? How would I be different today?”

“Well, I did come back, right?”

“I don’t think we’re on the same side, Lulu.”

“I can’t help that I’m a good girl and you’re a bad guy.”

“I’m not a bad guy. And it fucking sucks that you can’t see that.”

We stand there, silent. Just looking out at the accidents down on the city streets below.

“Can we start again?” she finally asks. “Because I really did come over here for the lunchtime sex and it would be a really frustrating afternoon for me if I went away unsatisfied.”

“That’s not why you came.” I chuckle.

“Maybe not entirely. But it’s why I’m still here.”

I turn to face her, wondering how genuine this gesture is. Does she just want to use sex to get me to talk? Or is she really as interested in me as I am her? “Do I still need to get you drunk first?” I ask, motioning my head towards the wine. “Because that was my evil supervillain plan.”

“Nope,” she says, unbuttoning her light pink blouse to reveal a lacy white bra. It’s accentuated with a sweet satin ribbon right between her round, plump breasts. “I’m an easy catch today. No bait necessary, Mr. Reider.”

“You understand why I should be suspicious?” I say, giving her a sidelong glance. “With all your self-righteous talk of deals and disdain for vigilantism?”

“Can we fight later?” she asks. “After the nooner?”

I’d like to think I’m stronger than that. I’d like to brag about how I’m the alpha male here and no woman has the power to manipulate me. But fuck it.

I am an Alpha, but I’m a lost one. And I could really use a soft, quiet afternoon with the beautiful woman I loved and lost to take my mind off things.

Lulu doesn’t give me the chance to think too long on her offer. One soft hand grabs mine and places it on her breast. The soft cloth makes me want to stroke it.

“I really didn’t bring you here for sex, Lulu.”

“Are you saying no?” she asks, placing her other hand on my chest. She flattens her palm against my shirt and closes her eyes.

“Not exactly,” I reply, distracted by her boldness.

“Then stop talking.”

I grab both her wrists so fast her eyes fly open and a small surprised gasp leaves her lips. “Don’t give me orders,” I say in a low voice. “I don’t like it.”

“Then don’t keep me waiting.”

“I’m not fucking you, Lulu. Do you really think I’m so desperate for sex, or human contact, or whatever it is you’re peddling right now, that I can’t say no?”

“Why would you want to say no?”

I let out a small, unamused laugh as I slowly shake my head. “I get it,” I say. “I get that when shit starts to go down some people need a distraction. But I’m not one of those people. I’m not the kind of man who runs. I like to look people in the eye and say what I mean.”

“Then stop talking in riddles and do that,” she quips.

“I don’t think I like you anymore.”

She tilts her head like she heard me wrong. “Excuse me?”

“I guess you were just one of those good memories, you know? We had a great time getting to know each other leading up to the ball and that night you were so insistent. So it’s understandable that I’d latch on to what could’ve been once you left town. But now that you’re back, Lulu, I really don’t think we have anything in common.”

“Because you’re on the wrong side?” She hastily buttons her shirt, rescinding her offer. “And I’m out to get you?”

“No,” I say, turning my back on her and walking towards the door, grabbing her coat and purse from a chair. “No, that’s not it at all.” When I turn she’s still all the way across the room, standing in front of my city like this isn’t happening. But it is happening. “You don’t know me. You don’t know one true thing about me. And yet you’re standing here like some pillar of truth and justice, passing judgment on me like you’re above it all. But you’re part of the problem, Lulu. My friends and me are part of the solution and if you’re too fucking scared to pull down the blindfold of government-sanctioned righteousness and see what’s standing right in front of you, then I’ve got nothing more to say except…” I wave my hand towards the elevator where Steve is waiting, actually anticipating my next move. “Get the fuck out.”