84 | On Pins And Needles

Jane shook her head, and when she spoke again she sounded fiercer than he'd ever heard her. 'Not if you use it against this Marcy bitch,' she said. 'That bitch that killed Ray. That bitch who thinks she's gonna kill your parents here tonight.' She passed him the gun. 'This ain't murder. It's execution.'

'An execution,' he echoed. 'I guess, I guess I should do it.' He still felt the tingling traces of Lucy's serum in his veins. Was that why he was going along with this? A few months ago, just holding a gun would've freaked him out. Now he found himself lifting the gun, aiming it at the door, curling his finger around the trigger, picturing Marcy coming into range …

Jane had picked up a picture from the bedside table. Mom's side, he guessed.

'Look at you,' she murmured. 'And who's the cute kid?'

'My brother, Joe.'

'He ain't staying here?'

'Guess he's at Aunt Rachel's or something.' Jack wiped the wetness from his eyes.