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"I’ into a vest I show her my pistol, make sure there’s a bullet in the chamber, and when the team arrives, I walk to the porch, but don’t prouys are behind ear, weapons raised, coainst the wall so Greg can’t see them when he answers

I don’t have to knock before the door is flung open and there’s Greg LaCroix, with a gun in his hand and his eyes ith crazy standing beforehis head "First, I want to know that everybody inside is alive"

"You think I’d kill my own kin?" he de monster?"

"I know you are," I reply calmly "And I know that you’d kill them"

He pauses and stares at ht But I ain’t killed them yet That depends on you"

"On me?"

"Yes’m If you piss "

Over o" He grins, showing me his rotten, toothless mouth He probably has meth to thank for that

"I don’t think you plan to let theo," I reply softly

"Maybe I do and s and scratches his cheek with the barrel of the pistol, and I ith all er and he’d blow his own head off

But it doesn’t seeie and the kids, please"

"You’ll have to colance back at Monroe, who shakes her head no, but I take a breath and send up a quick prayer "Fine Let’s go in"

"You’re a cocky bitch, ain’t ya?" he says with a laugh "I like that Now come on in, and you can see for yourself that I ain’t hurt nobody"

I gesture with one finger behind nal to wait onerooie has been beaten so badly that she’s passed out and her oldest son, Calvin, is holding her in his arht Her other son, Preston, has Jas to calm her, his own face tear-stained

"See? Everybody’s just fine"

"I don’t think they’re fine," I reply and turn to Greg "Margie has been beaten badly and your children are hysterical"

He doesn’t answer right away He just watches un, then presses it to the side of Margie’s head,Calvin cry even harder

"Is this what you want?" he asks