Thicker than Blood Read Online Free

walled community that had so easily disregarded a
century’s worth of women’s rights in favor of a male-ruled totalitarian
state .
    “Where is she?” I asked, laughing despite
myself. I suddenly wanted to find her, to be with her that very
instant, wrapping my arms around her and sharing in what I could
only imagine would be tears of sheer joy.
    It was stupid of me to behave this way.
Stupid and reckless. It was dangerous for anyone to know that I was
this happy about Lawrence’s death, but to hell with it, I didn’t
care. He was dead, and my best friend was free of him.
    “It was Leisel,” Angela mumbled.
    “What was Leisel?” I asked.
    “Leisel killed him.” Angela’s gaze dropped as
more tears fell from beneath her lashes. “She killed him, Eve. And
they’re going to execute her tomorrow.”
    At her shocking words, I stumbled backward as
if I’d been punched in the gut, as if Lawrence had just hit me with
one of his vicious blows. Leisel, my innocent Leisel, had killed
him? I shook my head, refusing to believe it, yet Angela was
nodding like one of those obnoxious bobble-head figurines, smiling
and forever bobbing its ridiculously large head.
    Only Angela wasn’t smiling.
    “Take me to her,” I said from between gritted
teeth.
    “ I can’t. They’ve locked her up. She’s in
the tower already. I have to go because if they notice that I’m
gone…” Angela pressed her lips together and glanced
away.
    I didn’t bother pressing her for more. What
was left to say?
    Several seconds of uncomfortable silence
passed before Angela turned away and opened the door. Glancing back
over her shoulder, she swallowed thickly. “I’m so sorry, Eve.”
    She really was sorry; I could see how
genuinely sorry she was. She knew what Leisel meant to me, the
lengths I would go to for her. And unlike the rest of the town,
Angela had a vague idea of what Lawrence had put Leisel
through.
    Again, disbelief clouded my thoughts. Leisel
had just killed a man in cold blood? It didn’t make sense, though I
supposed that everyone had their limits. Worry for her began
burning through my veins. What had he done to get her into such a
state that she couldn’t take any more?
    It all seemed so wrong, considering
everything I thought I’d known about my best friend. How had such a
sweet and caring woman, a total book nerd who’d taught half the
kids in Fredericksville how to read and write, actually hurt
someone? And she hadn’t just hurt him, but had ended him.
    I should have seen it coming, should have
realized that she’d been near the end of her rope. There were only
so many times a person could be beat down, again and again and
again, before they broke entirely. Leisel had obviously broken, and
why wouldn’t she?
    Hurting Leisel was like kicking a blind
puppy—no one of sound mind would ever do such a thing. Lawrence, I
finally decided, had gotten his just deserts, with no one to blame
but himself.
    How stupid we’d been, the both of us. Stupid
for thinking that a small group of survivors that had happened on
us in our darkest hour, promising safety and security, hadn’t had
ulterior motives. We’d simply traded one hell for another.
    I found myself sneering at the wall,
remembering how happy I’d been for Leisel when Lawrence had chosen
her to marry. He’d seemed such a strong leader at the time. In his
early forties, charismatic and handsome, and more importantly,
seeming so willing to do whatever it took to help rebuild our
crumbling world. I’d even been a bit jealous, wishing I had a man
who seemed so dependable and caring.
    Until the first bruise had appeared; then I’d
felt only anger and regret.
    “How did she do it?” I called out after
Angela’s quickly retreating form.
    Turning, she anxiously looked in all
directions. “She stabbed him,” she said quietly, swallowing
nervously, her eyes still darting back and forth. Another heartbeat
passed, then Angela gave me a pitying glance before running off
down