The Believers (The Breeders Series - Book 2) (32 page)

The silence that followed was heavy.

Finally, her voice squawked through the machine. “The outsiders.” Her voice was taut now, almost…angry? “I want to know where they were headed and exactly when they left.” She cleared her throat, an awful sound like metal scraping metal. “They have something that belongs to me.”

Lavan shivered, but he snapped the button down as fast as he could. “They left near abouts five hours ago, headed north on the old highway. Said they were going home.” Lavan wiped sweat off his upper lip. Thank the stars he wasn't those outsiders. From the tone in this woman's voice, he could tell whatever they had, they'd better be ready to part with it and quick-like.

“Home,” she said. He could hear the smile in her voice. “Perfect. We'll be waiting.”

 

If you enjoyed this story, please pick up a copy of the first novel,
THE BREEDERS.

Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches-- moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders' long reach. The Breeders control everything- the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless society. And they're hunting Riley.

When the local Sheriff abducts the adult members of her family and hands her mother over to the Breeders, Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, hiding in a shelter, are left to starve. Then Clay arrives, the handsome gunslinger who seems determined to help to make up for past sins. The problem is Clay thinks Riley is a bender—a genderless mutation, neither male nor female. As Riley's affection for Clay grows she wonders can she trust Clay with her secret and risk her freedom?

The three embark on a journey across the scarred remains of New Mexico— escaping the Riders who use human sacrifice to appease their Good Mother, various men scrambling for luck, and a deranged lone survivor of a plague. When Riley is forced into the Breeder's hospital, she learns the horrible fate of her mother—a fate she'll share unless she can find a way out.

Katie French imagined herself an author when her poem caught the eye of her second grade teacher. In middle school she spent her free time locked in her room, writing her first young adult novel. Though her social life suffered, her love for literature thrived. She studied English at Eastern Michigan University, where she veered from writing and earned an education degree. She spent nine years teaching high school English. Currently she is a school counselor, doing a job that is both one of the hardest things she's ever done and the most rewarding. In her free time she writes, reads great books and takes care of her two beautiful and crazy children. She is a contributor and co-creator of Underground Book Reviews, a website dedicated to erasing the boundaries between traditional and non-traditional publishing. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. You can find her at
www.katiefrenchbooks.com
, at
www.undergroundbookreviews.com
or on
Facebook
or Twitter @katielfrench.

The dreaded sequel. Visions of its fiery demise floated in my head for months as I wrote this book. What second book is ever as good as the first? Think of movies.
The Matrix Reloaded
? Terrible.
Back to the Future II
? Bizarre. How could I live up to the mounting expectations of my fans? This was the first book I wrote where people were waiting for it, begging for it even. Wouldn’t I just let them down?

Well, the jury is still out in that department, but what I will say is I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this book. I left no dusty stone unturned, no character unscathed. I hope it reminds you what you loved about
The Breeders
and then takes you to a deeper level of understand in regard to Riley’s world. And if it doesn’t, at least I know I tried my hardest. That’s all I can offer.

Much props and virtual fist-bumps go out to my first readers, Kimberly Shursen, Amy Trueblood and Amy Biddle. A better set of writers and friends does not exist. Thanks to Kimberly for always telling it like it is. Thanks to Amy Trueblood for her editor’s eye. Thanks to Amy Biddle for her amazing attention to detail. The book would never be as polished if you three hadn’t had your hands on it.

Thanks goes out to my Underground Book Reviews team, Amy Biddle and Brian Braden. Along with Kimberly, you were the ones that helped me believe I could make this dream happen. Thanks to my amazing Indie author friends, Zoe Cannon, Kate Ellison, S.K. Falls, A.G. Henley, Megan Thompson. Go buy their books. You won't be sorry.

Thanks to my cover artist, Andrew Pavlik, who put up with my constantly changing mind. No matter how many fonts I threw at you. Thank you to my agent, Amanda Luedeke, who told me to go for it. Thanks for all your sage advice.

Thanks to my parents who always told me I could. To my family and friends, you hit me with love the size of a Mack truck and I am thoroughly bowled over by it. I'm so blessed to have dozens of people who have my back no matter what. How did I ever get so lucky?

To my children, I love you to the moon and back. Always. And to Ryan, this book is and every book for you, my one and only love.

If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads. For updates on more of the series, like Katie on
Facebook
or
Twitter
visit her website at
http://www.katiefrenchbooks.com/
.