BirthMark (28 page)

“So you’re trying to create super wolves?” Davian asked.

“No, they scrapped the program, this was the last test. Having stronger wolves for the Patron to control soured the higher ups.”

“Can a man live if his wolf dies?” Tyrese asked.

“No. None of the test subjects were able to.”

Anger ripped through Tyrese at the mention of innocents being used for research. A trickle of blood ran down the doctor’s nose. They were running out of time. He looked at Asia, she appeared to be deep in thought.

“Why were you trying to kill her and why didn’t she die?” Tyrese asked, nodding at her.

Asia looked at him and smirked.

The doctor’s lips moved in a parody of a smile. “She’s a complicated mystery for us, well, for them now, I guess. She was the first prototype who broke all the rules. Asia was in the program way before I joined. She’s been operated on so many times it’s amazing her wolf still functions.” He sniffed but the blood continued to roll down across his lips to his chin.

He glanced at her. “I know they replaced one of your arms and legs with titanium. They thought it would kill her wolf and stop her from shifting. There’s a tracking device in her skull with a kill mechanism. It failed, which pissed them off big time. The only reason she was allowed on this mission is because she’s black and they felt she’d have a better chance connecting with you.” He tipped his chin to Tyrese before peering at her. “How many researchers have you killed or maimed, Asia?” He coughed, spitting up blood.

“Obviously not enough, they’re still operating,” she said with a sneer.

“
Does he know who started the human breeding?”
Silas asked. Tyrese was glad he was back and asking questions.

Tyrese asked the question and the doctor looked surprised. “Is that what they wanted that wolf for? I wondered about that.”

“What?” Tyrese asked.

“There is a pack of wolves in Oklahoma. They weren’t the brightest, but they were tough, mean, strong, could withstand torture, wouldn’t break. Good full-blood stock. They used the seed from that pack to start a separate half-breed program to see if genes made a difference in the quality of the wolf.”

Blood trickled faster down the doctor’s chin. “Plan failed though. None of the wolves bred half-breeds. That pack's hard to control, hates the very idea of breeds. So they’re using the Bennetts to stir up the rebels against the Patron.”

“Why? Why do humans care about wolves and our Patron?” Tyrese asked, frustrated. Why couldn’t they just leave them alone?

The doctor chuckled and coughed. There was a gurgling sound in his throat. “Humans? I don’t know if I’d call them that. They’re power hungry monsters.” He gasped as more blood ran from his nose. “The wolves are at the top of the power chain,” he panted, sweating. “And every man wants to be at the top. But…but no one can be top as long as…Patron…lives.” His chin fell against his chest as blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth onto his chest.

No one spoke for a moment.

“
I didn’t catch the beginning of the interview, we had some housekeeping going on here,”
Silas said. “
That was an odd comment about Asia being a prototype. What is she the first of?”

Tyrese sent the recorded conversation to Silas. The two breeds stood and stretched their arms and legs. Everyone ignored the dying man tied to the chair.

“
My men should be reaching you in about five to ten minutes.”

“
Yes, Sir. Did you get the part about coming after me because they know you have a son?”

“
No, I missed that. I’ll listen to this in a minute”

“Help should be here soon,” Tyrese said to his dad.

“Aren’t you curious about what the drug is going to do to you?” Asia asked, searching his face. “It’s been longer than thirty minutes.”

“I’m very curious, but you heard him. They get this stuff wrong all the time. Nothing may happen or I might fall apart when I shift or cry like a baby.” He shrugged. “I just have to wait and see.”

She nodded.

“What are you the prototype of?”

She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. “Let’s talk about this when we get back to La Patron. I would prefer to explain it once.”

He nodded. “
Is she returning with us?
” he asked Silas.

“
Yes, her and Davian, Matt is getting antsy. He felt the pain from the shot and almost tore up the lab trying to get to his mate. Let the breeds go home or wherever they want
.”

He walked to his dad and hugged him. “
Thank you…thanks for coming
,” Tyrese said through their link.

“
You are my son. I would die for you or Rone. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, many your mom pointed out to me a few hours ago
–”

Tyrese pushed back in surprise. “
You talked to mom? At the compound?”
He looked his dad over for bruises. “
The Patron allowed it?”

Davian smiled.
“He was in the room and there was some growling, but for the most part I got to explain and apologize. It had been eating at me for a long time. I am happy you and your brother took care of your mom when I couldn’t. I’m very happy she has a mate who loves her.”

Tyrese nodded. Glad his dad had finally come clean.

“
I am so proud of you and Rone. Living with the Patron and on his security team. I thought I would hit the floor when I heard that.”

Tyrese’s heart leapt at his father’s praise. He stepped aside as someone stepped forward and looked at his dad.

“Is he really the Patron’s son?” the communications guy asked Davian, who stared at the youngster for a minute.

“Why?” Davian asked, frowning.

“Because that’s what this whole thing was about, grabbing the Patron’s son to use as a bargaining chip. I just wondered if they got the right guy.”

Davian smiled and didn’t answer. Tyrese placed his hand on his dad’s shoulder and squeezed.

Chapter 17

Silas watched for a moment later and switched monitors. Security had just zipped up four body bags and lined them up in the tunnel on the floor.

“Is this from the extermination?” Silas asked through the mic.

“Yes, Sir. Three were in the HVAC ducts and one had been hiding in a supply room. All human, Sir.” Silas sent a silent thanks to Jacques for instituting their current security check program. The toxic gas he had released in the unsecured areas throughout the compound had been a costly venture, but looking at the bodies on the ground, it was worth it. No telling what these people had planned to do. He sent a message to Rose to have the gas tank refilled and the duct system checked.

Silas exhaled. “Good work, stand front and center.” They all stepped in front of the bodies. One lagged a bit and then joined the line. Silas scanned each hooded guard. “The one on the end is human.” The security guard next to the human whipped out his gun and shot the perpetrator. The man fell to the ground. The other guards helped strip off his gear, leaving him naked and exposed.

“Did they have any tattoos or anything identifying them as belonging to a group or something?”

“No, Sir. We have collected their weapons. There weren’t that many. They had a lot of surveillance equipment.”

“Institute full searches by quadrants after I air out the area. I want no bugs in my house.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Silas returned to the conversation with the doctor and Tyrese.

<<<<>>>>

“
We’re almost there,”
the lead honor guard told Silas, who repeated the information to Tyrese.

Disturbed more than he wanted to admit over the human invaders, Silas watched the various monitors of the hallways in the compound, the lab, the gym and the grounds.

“
Jasmine, everything okay?”

“
We’re good.”

“
Davian got to Tyrese, they’re waiting for the guard to dig them out and then they’ll be on their way.”

“
Rese is okay?”
He heard the nervous quiver in her voice and sought to ease her fears.

“
They gave him a shot of something. Rone said it burned like fire through Rese’s system. I was monitoring him and the only thing I noticed was his heartbeat was faster.”

“
You might want to check with Matt. He told me the detective received a shot of something, and based on the previous condition of your wolf, it will amp it up. Kind of like a steroid shot.”

Silas hadn’t had a chance to go over the reports from the labs or receive a personal briefing. He was sure there was a lot more going on than what Jasmine said.

“
Will do,”
he said, looking at the unopened file from Tyrese with the doctor’s conversation.

“
That’s a good idea.”

“
Speaking of ideas, I wonder when I’ll be treated to a purple and black treat.”
He was jealous knowing she’d dressed special for her ex and hadn’t for him. At least not yet. Normally he preferred her naked, but the image of her sexy curves and smooth skin in wisps of satin and lace had taken root. Now he wanted to see her in seductress mode.

“
Really? You’d like that?”

He shook his head at the question.
“Most men like that. Except, not in those colors, dress for me in a different color.”

She giggled.
“I only did that to get things moving with him. We’ve never had that problem. But I’ll dress for you if you want me to.”

“
I want you to
,” he purred.

“
Oh, okay. Damn you sounded so sexy just then. Do it again.”

“
Jasmine,”
he said her name in a soft purring sound.

“
Sir?”

Silas closed his eyes at the interruption. “Yes?” he said without looking at Tyrone.

“There’s something wrong with the remote’s monitor.”

He looked over his shoulder and the screen blinked on and off, followed by a series of rolling codes and symbols. Something was going on with the laptop.

“
I’ll get back with you, baby
.”

Silas watched the display, wondering where it was headed. He punched in a few keys and inserted a tracking device into the USB port. The screen blanked and a picture of a large black wolf, which looked remarkably similar to Silas’ wolf, jogged across the screen and was hit with a bolt of lightning. It was a grisly sight with body parts flying everywhere, which merely stiffened Silas’ resolve to find and eviscerate the fuckers.

He scooted to his main computer to insure he hadn’t lost control of his network. Everything was good. He released a breath and waited to see if there was anything more to the animation.

“
I hear something, they must be getting close,”
Tyrese said through their link.

Silas looked at his other monitors and although the honor guard was moving fast, none of the groups looked to be that close to the area with Tyrese. Perhaps the noises were amplified and echoing off the walls.

“It looks like it’ll be a while,” Silas said while watching the laptop. A message, with large white letters on a black backdrop, scrolled from bottom to top, reminding him of the beginning of Star Wars.

“Silas Knight is no more a leader or protector of the wolves than the President of the United States is a protector of human life. both of your decisions are couched in the approval of others. The very nature of wolves was changed beneath your nose and in your arrogance, you missed it. Change came over a decade ago and you were asleep on your post. Thousands of wolves have died over the years as lab rats and you are clueless. You sit and make judgments without knowledge of the facts. As a result you have been judged as unworthy. Your house of cards will tumble. You have failed. You will fall.”

The picture of the dead wolf grew larger and larger until it eclipsed the screen.

“That’s some bullshit,” Tyrone said from next to him. “Cowards won’t show their faces, they hide behind a fucking computer saying all kinds of shit.” He slammed the top of the console and rolled back to his monitors on the other side of the room. Silas felt the young pup’s anger and let him be.