Page 88 of Anarchy Missing

He doesn’t turn. Just stands there, frozen.

“I’m in.”

Nothing from Case.

“And let me tell you why I’m in, OK?”

He peers over his shoulder at me, giving me a sidelong glare. “Why?”

I stand up and walk over to him, wrap my hands around his waist, enjoy the feeling of his hard muscles underneath his cotton t-shirt, and press myself to his chest. “Because I believe in you, Case. I think you’re a good man.”

“Ha.” He laughs. But I can almost feel his smile. “You’re wrong, Lulu.”

“Nope,” I say. “I know you. You’re still that guy who took me to the Debutante Ball. The one who showed up for rehearsals every week without fail. I knew it wasn’t your thing but you showed up. You did more than show up, you embraced it. And even though you were getting nothing out of that night—like at all”—I chuckle—“you were still reluctant to have sex with me that night when I insisted. You never expected anything from me. It was a favor, sure. But it was one you did with all your heart. You’re good, Case. And even though I might not agree with this plan you guys are cooking up, I do agree that justice must be done. And if we stay together I can help you.”

“Save me from myself?” He laughs. But his arms wrap me up, like he’s desperate to hold on to my offer.

“No,” I say. “Not that. Just… guide you through it, you know?” I pull away from him so I can look into his face. “Be your other half.”

“The good half?” We both smile. “The angel on my shoulder?”

I shrug. “Maybe? I probably see the world differently than you. But I’m not a fanatic. I can see more than one point of view. I’m not a black-and-white-world kind of person.”

“You won’t be able to stop us, so if that’s your motive, it won’t work. Even if I wanted to stop, and I don’t, Thomas will never stop and neither will Lincoln. So if that’s your reason—”

“It’s not,” I insist. “You’re my reason, Case. You.”