Wayward Son Read Free Page A

person besides Doc who had access to it was Thorn. Before Groom Lake. We were supposed to look for the notebook—”
    “Wait a second!” Jack interrupted, waving his hand in Pedro’s face. “They think Thorn stole some of Doc’s notebooks? Notebooks?”
    “There were plans for a Doomsday weapon in there, Chief. Like, kill off anything that isn’t ‘human’. They were afraid that…”
    “And of course, they just assume that the vampire had to steal it.”
    Pedro shook his head. “Jack, I saw Thorn with some kind of chromed out rocket launcher. That’s what blew up and took out the corner of the castle.” Pedro pointed to the rubble again. “He was aiming it at me .”
    Jack paused for just a moment and stared at Popo. “Over there?” Pedro nodded, and Jack took off in the direction of the smoking debris. “You’re sure it was Rufus?”
    “Jack, come on, of course I’m sure. There was somebody else with him, but it was definitely Thorn.”
    “Where did he go?” Jack stood over the fallen debris and stared into the scorched hole in the ground.
    “He just…disappeared. There was a huge explosion, a flash of light and then there was nothing. Stuff collapsing, and fire and…”
    Jack jumped into the hole and began tossing out chunks of debris. Pedro whistled for Gus and the two stepped into the blast crater with him, tossing out smoking chunks. “Do you really think he may have survived?”
    “He’s a fucking vampire,” Jack stated as though that explained everything.
    Pedro paused and sighed. “Jack, Mitchell wants the notebook back regardless.”
    Jack stood up and stared at Pedro. “Buddy, if it turns out that Thorn actually stole the plans for a Doomsday weapon from my teammates? He’s going to have more to worry about than just the vampire council.” The set of his jaw sent a cold chill up Pedro’s neck.
     
    *****
     
    “Medic!” Kowalski screamed as he dropped beside his XO. His hands shook as he peeled back the sides of Tufo’s shredded BDU blouse. “Holy…”
    Greene slipped in next to him with a first aid box. “They’re getting somebody now.” He pulled open the white can and began ripping gauze bandages out and handing them to the staff sergeant. “He’s going to be okay, ain’t he?”
    “Shut up and hand me more.” Kowalski tried to press them against the shredded remains of Tufo’s abdomen but the bandages disappeared and slipped inside his body cavity. Kowalski shuddered and pulled the soaked bandages back out. “This shit ain’t gonna cut it.” His eyes met Greene’s and he shook his head. “He needs a real doctor.”
    “Make a hole!” Mitchell shouted as Evan Peters slipped in beside Kowalski. “Let the Doc at him.”
    “We need to move him.” Evan whispered. “His pulse is weak and thready. His breathing is shallow. I need an operatorium.”
    “Will your lab work?” Mitchell moved to the side as two men brought a stretcher in and placed it next to Mark’s prone body.
    Evan shook his head. “I need a real operating room.” He pulled the stethoscope from the man’s chest and pulled him gently to the stretcher. “Something fully sterile. With the right equipment. We need a ventilator, monitors…hell, I need an anesthetist.”
    “Where’s the closest hospital that can handle this kind of trauma?” Mitchell yelled.
    Evan looked up at the man and shook his head. “There are no hospitals set up to handle a werewolf attack, Colonel. You know this.”
    Mitchell clenched his jaw and his body trembled with anger. “I refuse to accept this. You have to save him!”
    Evan pulled Matt aside and lowered his voice. “At this point, I don’t even know if trying to turn him will save him.” He glanced back at Major Tufo, a pallid blue settling in around his face. “He wasn’t bitten by the wolf, he was shredded . He isn’t infected. He was tortured. He’s—”
    “Don’t say it, Doc.” Matt had a finger in his face. “He’s my oldest friend. You