“Then don’t lose,” Nate says. “Last April, you wanted to go after Diana with both barrels. Now it’s okay if my brother gets locked up for five years? What happened to speaking out for all the innocent men caught in the system? Whose lives have been ripped apart by hysterical feminists and false accusations?” He turns to Billy. “You didn’t do it. Don’t let your lawyer fuck you because he turned out to be a pussy.”

“Nate,” Lawrence says. “Tone it down.”

DeFiore is unfazed. “I told you this before, Nate. But I’ll keep repeating it until it sinks in. A trial isn’t about innocence. It’s about what a DA can prove. And their evidence seems solid.”

Nate scoffs. “Jesus, Peter. A few months ago, their evidence was shit. It changes every day. Which is it? Solid or shit? Make up your fucking mind.”

“I said take it easy,” Lawrence snaps. “Or excuse yourself.” He apologizes to DeFiore.

“It’s fine, Lar. I understand his frustration.” DeFiore tries to explain. “The prosecution’s evidence is weak. But it’s solid enough to tell a believable story. They have credible eyewitnesses, CCTV footage, and corroborating reports. They have semen and vaginal tearing. They have interviews with the girl’s friends, family, and roommates. They all say the exact same thing.” DeFiore ticks off his fingers. “One, the girl broke up with Billy, which made him angry. Two, he stalked and threatened her on several occasions—”

“Peter,” Nate interrupts. “For God’s sake, he broke up with her—”

“Three, on the night in question, the girl blacked out and Billy raped her—”

“The hospital report was inconclusive—”

“And four, Billy shows no remorse.”

“What are you talking about? How is he not showing remorse?”

“I’m looking at him right now. Billy, sorry pal, but you do not look the least bit remorseful. You look like a privileged, pissed-off jock who’s never been told ‘no’ in his life.”

Billy’s head jerks up. “What the fuck? You don’t even know me.”

“Hey, hey, hey.” Lawrence makes a patting gesture. “Let’s stay civil.”

“You people don’t get it,” DeFiore says. “Anderson will decimate Billy. They won’t just bring in witnesses from the scene. They’ll wrangle every person the girl has ever met to testify against him. They’ll say he is damaged, violent, and dangerous. They’ll paper the room with pictures of the girl’s face and body. They’ll go after him like rabid dogs. I’ve seen every piece of evidence. It’s enough to put him away for a very long time.”

“You told us that most of it is circumstantial or inconclusive,” I say.

“No, the sheriff’s and EMT’s reports are not inconclusive. They both say the girl was unconscious. She scored a thirteen on the Glasgow coma scale. Fully aware is fifteen.”