stop query_posts

hey everyone

i want something that i don’t know much how to explain, but here we go.

i’m using a $counter variable, defined before the loop:

<?php $counter = 0; ?>

everypost adds 1 to the counter:

<?php $counter = $counter + 1; ?>

but, if the post is in category 6, it adds one more:

<?php if (in_category('6')) { ?>
<?php $counter = $counter + 1; ?>

well, i do it because i want that when it reaches 7, it shows up a page:

<?php if(7 == $counter ) : include (TEMPLATEPATH . '/BREAKING-NEWS.php'); endif; ?>

here is my question: i want to stop query_posts after counter reaches 10, but i can’t do it by myself. do you guys suggest something?

thanks!