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"NYU?" He laughed "You seriously think you’re going to get into a school like that?"

"I’e-prep classes I get good grades I score crazy high on those stupid IQ tests theyfor it? Turning tricks?"

"Ever hear of scholarships?"

"Don’t kid yourself You go to a Podunk high school and no preppy school is ever going to let you in"

"I don’t believe that My priest says I’m smart, and he’s the smartest person I’ve everpriest?"

"You’re an assle"

"I’m not the one who rolled on her father to save her own ass"

"That’s your own fking fault," she shot back "Nobody asked you to be a criet a real job?"

"You want ida piece-of-shit lowlife who let his own daughter take the heat for hiht?"

Her father’s hand whipped out and slapped her with such speed she flinched far more from the shock than the pain

She stared at him, wide-eyed and dazed

"I hope you rot in jail," she said Her father raised his hand to slap her again She ducked and tried to push past hierator She pushed hiet around hirab her

She raced to the door and ran down the four flights of steps as fast as she could and even then she heard her father’s footsteps chasing right behind her She hit the street and started running again She turned a corner and found a subway entrance When she went for her money she realized the horrible fact that she’d left her coat in her dad’s apartment And it had all herbut that stupid list of questions for Søren Nothat mattered was in her coat

In desperation she studied the subwayshe’d think of someone--anyone--she knew in the city who could help her One street name jumped out at her Riverside Drive wasn’t that far away froet there in forty-five iven her that card, that fking card that was trapped in her coat, for his friend who lived on Riverside Drive He said to go there in case of e stuck in the city without any s and e around toher It see as fast as she could in her boots She shoved her hands into her jeans’ pockets for warmth and tried not to cry In her heart, she’d always known her father was exactly what she’d called him--a piece-of-shit lowlife criminal But she’d wanted to believe so badly that he cared about her, that he’d missed her, that he loved her She berated herself block after block for believing all that shit he’d shoveled on her All he wanted was to suck up to her, get her in a good et her to lie for his and nose Tears streamed from her eyes as she walked She prayed hard that this friend of Søren’s would take pity on her and help her get ho for change like the hoy blankets

Finally she reached the address she remembered from the business card The house--white stone with black iron trim--shone like the sun under the streetlamps

"God damn …" she breathed House? This was no house This was a New York palace She studied it for a good fiveto memorize all the details Three stories tall or lass on the roof--reenhouses or conservatories or whatever they were called The front of the house hite, but all the trim on the arched as black The second story had a black iron balcony and people in party clothes--dresses and suits--came in and out of the door She e to knock on the door Then she saw it In the shadows at the side of the house she spotted a black Ducati motorcycle

Søren? She couldn’t believe he was here Diane had said he ith fa and wouldn’t be back until Sunday What was he doing here at a party on Riverside Drive? She didn’t know, but she sure as hell intended to find out A liirls in short stylish coats and stiletto heels eht for the front door Eleanor followed them and when the person at the door let them in en masse, she slipped in behind the but stand in the luxurious marble foyer and stare To her left in the front roo in front of aa suit He thread of cash onto a low coffee table A dozen people around them thren money, as well The woman slipped the dress off her shoulders, and it cascaded to the floor She wore nothing underneath The ers between her legs as he bit her neck and shoulders Eleanor tried not to watch but she couldn’t turn away from the scene He pushed her onto her hands and knees, opened his pants and started stroking hihten up in her stomach as he thrust into the naked woman from behind