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JUDITH she considered abortion, of course, a brief thought that flickered and died. It’s too risky and too difficult to find someone willing and qualified to perform it. She’s seen what happens when abortions go wrong.

But it’s not just that. The truth is that she wants the baby. She wants to love Kenneth’s evil out of it, even if she can’t love away her family’s curse.

“So that’s why you want to kill him,” Gloria says. “To get him away from your kid.”

Judith frowns. “It’s not the only reason.”

Gloria blinks, giving Judith a doubtful look.

“I don’t like what he did to you,” Judith says quietly.

“You told me you come from a family of her murderers.”

“It’s different.”

Gloria scoffs.

“It is,” Judith says. “My family doesn’t—” She swallows, not sure if she wants to say the truth of what Kenneth did out loud. “They only kill,” she finishes, and something in Gloria’s face darkens.

“Most women like you would say I deserved it,” Gloria says softly. “Being a dancer and all. That I was asking for it.”

Judith feels herself bristle; how much more clear can she make it, that she’s not a sheltered housewife? But she bites back her irritation. “No one deserves that,” she says, perhaps a little more sharply than necessary. “Certainly not you.”

That last part comes out before Judith can stop it, and immediately her face flushes hot. Gloria can see it, too, because her expression changes—softens, flashes with that slyness that makes Judith’s heart flop around.

“And why would you say that?” When she asks the question, she gives Judith a third smile. Judith’s belly fills with butterflies.

“I don’t know,” Judith says quickly, feeling stupid. Gloria tilts her head, studying her, the smile still dancing on her full lips. Judith wonders if Kenneth kissed her before he fucked her—before he shoved that knife into her leg and revealed what he is and what he planned to do. Jealousy tightens in Judith’s chest.

But she’s not jealous of Gloria.

“The way you talk about killing him,” Gloria says, shattering the moment. “It’s creepy. But—” She looks away, staring at some empty place on the wall. “But I get it.”

“You don’t have to kill him yourself,” Judith says. “Just help me. I’ll do the hard part.”

“For me?” Gloria looks at her again, eyes bright.

Judith sucks in her breath.

And then she nods.