The Breadwinner Trilogy (Book 1): The Breadwinner by Stevie Kopas Read Free Book Online Page A

road.  They didn’t know why, but the eaters seemed more active at night, like animals hunting.  “Just up here, come on now.”  Samson whispered to Veronica when he saw the guard house.  Samson ushered her past him “Third house in.”  He looked around to ensure they weren’t followed and grunted, pulling the heavy gate, enclosing them in the community.  Veronica waited a few feet ahead for him to catch up.
    She eyed the house up and down as they approached.  “I like your cars.”  She pointed at the wreck in front of Samson’s house.
    Samson rolled his eyes and started up the dark driveway.  Veronica stood staring.  “It’s okay,” he assured her.  “We need to get inside, come on.”
    He unlocked the front door and placed the key back in his pocket.  Quietly, he opened the door and the two stepped inside.  Veronica was appalled by the overpowering smell of about 30 different air freshener scents that filled the room.  Remnants of blood that no amount of cleaning could fix stained the hardwood floor in the living room.  She looked over at the staircase, nervous about what she had just involved herself in.  What else do I have to do?
    “Where the hell have you been all day?”  A shrill voice called from the kitchen.  “It’s after dark already!”  High heeled footsteps drew closer and a small, big breasted blonde woman emerged from the other room.  “What the…”  Moira stopped in her tracks, a doe in the headlights look.  “We, we have a guest.”  She brushed her hair behind her ears and wiped her hands on her pale blue skirt, glancing from Veronica to Samson and back again.  Samson thought for a moment that she might have seen in the girl what he had; the marred innocence of the stranger who survived the world beyond their doors, the girl who might as well have been Keira’s own sister.  But she hadn’t.   “Moira Eckhart, pleased to meet you darlin’, excuse the mess, we don’t have a housekeeper anymore.”  His wife grinned ear to ear as she strutted up to Veronica.
    Veronica didn’t speak, but instead stared at this unbelievably put together woman in a ripped apart world.  Samson took a step forward and stood between Moira and Veronica.  He glanced at the handle of the bread knife sticking out from her waistband and shook his head in sadness.  She stopped just short of Samson, confused.   “Moira.”  Samson’s voice was low.  He shook his head again.  His wife crossed her arms in front of her and cocked her head.
    “Oh what the hell is this?”  Her confusion changed to anger.  “What are you doing?”
    “I’m doing what I should have done from the beginning.  Please, understand I can’t do this anymore.  I can’t allow these things to-“
    “What are you, stupid?  These things?  These things, Samson?!  What things?!  These things are your children.  Remember?  Our children.”  Her voice rose and she made wild gestures with her arms as she spoke.  Her eyes were wide and crazed as she stood up straight, her tiny frame appearing larger with each word that came out of her mouth.  “What do you think you’re going to do exactly?  Why is this piece of white trash standing in my house?”  Samson removed his pistol and held it in his shaking hands.
    Moira’s face twisted with horror and rage as she screamed.  “I have told you before and I will tell you again, I will fucking kill you in your sleep!  I will slit this girl’s throat and feed them myself!”  Moira ripped the knife from her waist and began slowly walking toward them, the knife pointed straight at Veronica.  Veronica backed away and toward the staircase, ready to flee at any moment.
    He answered her softly.  “This is not my family anymore.  I am not the provider anymore.”  Moira’s expression went from angry to blank.  He pointed at the ceiling, “They are not my children.  And you,” he stuck a finger in his wife’s chest.  “You’ve always been