“Tomato, tomahto. Ass rape is ass rape. Just thinking about it makes me jittery; I had to take a Xanax this morning to take the edge off. Tell you what, Princess. You ride shotgun, and I’ll sit in the back like someone’s grandma.”

“What’s the catch?”

“No catch.” He knocks my shoulder with his own. “I’m relieved you’re here. Dad’s been off his nut. I can’t handle him by myself.”

“Let’s go!” Lawrence’s tone is clipped. “You two can talk in the car.”

I climb into the passenger seat, but Nate is greeting Anton with a bro-man handshake routine. Although my brother’s closeness with the staff drives Eleanor up the wall, her disapproval only encourages him to keep it up.

Finished, he opens the back door and slides into the car. “Favorite and firstborn reporting for duty, sir.”

Anton leans into my open window. “Have a safe trip,” he says to Lawrence, who offers a terse “thank you” before pulling away. Lawrence’s snappishness is shockingly off-brand. He’s the quintessential clap-your-back, introduce-you-around, buy-you-a-drink kind of guy. But I know Lawrence intimately; and he is far more worried about Billy than he wants to admit.

* * *

We travel in silence. Everyone is preoccupied, and Lawrence’s lousy mood clouds the air. Eventually, when we emerge from the Lincoln Tunnel in New Jersey, he turns toward me. “What were you and Anton talking about?”

“Nothing. ‘Have a good day; you too.’ That was our entire conversation.”

“Did he say anything about Billy?”

“Of course not.” I stare at Lawrence, but his eyes are hidden behind mirrored sunglasses. “Why would you ask that?”

“The man is always around. I’m just curious what he’s heard, what people in the building might know.”

“He’d never talk to me about Billy. Even if he knew—which I assure you he doesn’t. Give the guy a break; he’s just doing his job.”

“Why are you so protective of Anton Rivera?”

“Why are you so suspicious of him?”

Learning forward, Nate sticks his head between us. “Oh boy, have I missed the sweet sound of your bickering.” He snatches my purse off my lap. “Got any food? I’m starving.”

“Hey, that’s mine!”

Before I can grab it back, Nate pulls out a tampon, which he unwraps and jams into his nostril. “Excellent for nosebleeds.” He bobs forward and I take a swipe at his face, but he’s too quick.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Lawrence says, but he cracks his first real smile of the day. “Hands on your own bodies.” His eyes flash my way. “I’m sorry, Cass. I don’t mean to snap. At you or Anton. I’m just worried about Billy and pissed off at the world.”

“I understand. You’re forgiven. Now tell me what happened.”

“I already told you everything,” Nate says.