Page 100 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

“I really don’t--”

“Five.”

“Danika, just settle down for a second.”

“Four.”

“Are you really counting down on me?”

“Three. ‘One’ ends with me hanging up the phone and never picking it up again. I’d suggest you take this moment. Two.”

He grumbled. “All right, all right, all right. We’re at the Hilton. On the other side of Ann Arbor. It’s got a restaurant in the lobby we can sit down in.”

I nodded. “Perfect. Seven o’clock. We’ll see you there. And don’t worry about calling the police. I’ve already helped Max clean things up with them and prove his innocence. So pulling that stunt again won’t work.”

“You’ve helped him with--the--cleaned--what are you talking about?”

“See you at seven, Dad.”

I hung up the phone.

“You okay?” Max’s voice made me jump as my phone tumbled from my hands. He strode to my side and picked it up before sitting on the bed with me. I clutched my mug of coffee and sighed. Heavily. I leaned against him as he wrapped his arm around me. And the musky smell of his sweat called to my heart.

“I love it when you wear my clothes,” he murmured.

I smiled. “I’m glad. Because they’re comfy.”

He kissed the side of my head. “You can wear them anytime, then.”

I took my phone from him. “Seven okay with you?”

“Would you give me a choice if I said ‘no’?”

I snickered. “Maybe not.”

“I’m proud of the way you handled that, gorgeous. You kept your poise, even though I’m sure your father didn’t.”

“I don’t know what that bodes for us tonight. But at least he’ll never be able to say I didn’t try.”

“And all you can ever do is try.”

I looked up at him. “Are you going to see your father at all? Or call him? Or something?”

He nodded mindlessly. “I’ve been thinking about going and seeing him while he’s in holding, yes. Because I sure as hell have no intentions to visit once he goes to prison for the rest of his life.”

“Then this is your only chance to see him.”

He stared off, his eyes unfocused. “Yes. It is. And I still have some things I want to say to him.”

“Do you want

me to go with you?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

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