Max went ahead and ordered an appetizer and glass of wine because she was famished. Emma must have waited until the last possible minute to call her father. Max almost felt sorry for the girl, but she had to own up to her actions and accept the consequences. At long last, David strode in and sat down. He didn’t say a word, but his face was set in a hard line and an almost imperceptible twitch pulsed along his square jaw. David always looked dangerous, and the crescent-shaped scar above his right cheekbone added to his dark demeanor. He rarely raised his voice, however, and tonight was no exception. Max could barely hear him when he said, “Explain.” Max said, “Emma should have told you everything.” “Should have.” She sipped her wine as the waiter approached. David ordered a scotch neat. Double. “Scotch?” Max smiled. When he didn’t say anything, Max put down her glass and said, “It’s simple. Austin and Emma are friends. Emma saw that Austin was angry about how his stepbrother was being treated.
