Read Online C.O.T.V.H. (Book 3): Extermination by Dustin J. Palmer - Free Book Online Page A

Dad." Jake called out to him from his spot in the corner. 
    John and Cort opened the door, their eyes instantly coming to rest on the headless vampire in the middle of the room.  John's eyes found Jake's and he smiled.  "You did it kid!  I knew you had it in you!"
    Cort walked over and prodded the dead body with his steel-toe boot then whistled through his teeth.  “Damn boy!  You sure killed the hell out this one!” he laughed heartily.  “Take a look at this big sucke . . .” he stopped, his eyes focusing on the vampire’s body.  “You know if I didn’t know better . . .” he knelt down and looked at the grunt’s belt.  "My god," he said stumbling backward as if slapped.
    "What is it Pop?"  John said walking over and looking at the body.
    "John . . . that's . . . that’s Billy . . . I think . . . that’s Billy Williams."
    "What?"  Jake said climbing to his feet.  "What do you mean that’s Billy?  That's . . . that’s impossible, Billy's in Hometown.  Isn't he?”  He looked from John to Cort searching their faces for signs that this was a really bad, really tasteless joke.  “Isn't he!?"
    "I . . . I . . . don’t know,” John said examining the grunt’s belt buckle.  “I . . . I think he might be right . . . there's only one belt buckle in the world like that."
    Jake's eyes stared at the large golden bull riding championship belt buckle on the dead man's belt.  It was riddled with buckshot and coated in blood but there was no denying it.  Jake had seen that buckle a thousand times.  It was Billy’s.  His stomach dropped along with his legs.  He hit the floor hard on his knees.
    "My god, Dad.  I . . . I . . . just . . . I just killed Billy!”  Jake covered his mouth with his hand.  “I just cut his . . ."
    "Don't you think it boy!” Cort grabbed him by the arm, yanking him to his feet.  “Don't you for one second even let that thought enter your head!  That is not Billy Williams!   That is a mindless grunt that would have ripped your arms and legs off and drink every ounce of blood in your body!"
    "Easy Pop," John said laying a hand on Cort's shoulder.  "He's right Jake.  That may have been Billy once but it's not anymore."
    "What the hell is he doing here?!"  Jake screamed. "Dad . . . this isn’t right.  You're telling me we just happen to land a gig that's got one of the most legendary hunters of our time turned into a grunt?  This is all wrong.  This is very, very wrong!"
    Cort stormed out of the room and headed downstairs.  John handed a bottle of water to Jake who accepted it taking two long swigs.  No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t take his eyes off of Billy’s body.
    "Dad,” he said shaking, “there's a bathroom full of bodies down the hall.  Strung up like some damn hogs in a butcher shop.  Billy wouldn't do something like that."
    "Jake . . . it’s not Billy.  Whatever he is, whatever he was, died the minute he was turned.  Come on, gather up your gear and let’s get the hell out of here,” John looked out the window.
    “Gather up my gear?!  How can you stand there and act like . . . like this is just some normal hunt?  Billy was your friend!”
    “You think I don’t know that?  You think I don’t want to scream at the top of my lungs and just give up?!  Billy was like a second father to me!  Just do what I say, remember your training and follow protocol, gather your gear, then we’re torching the house.”
    "What about Billy?  We can't just leave him like . . . like this!"
    "We can't do anything for him now.  We'll let the flames take his remains."
    "Dad,” Jake swallowed, “Amber, my god Sandra . . . first I let Donnie die, now this! They will hate me for the rest of my life!"
    "Jake,” John said softly, “calm down.  You didn’t get Donnie killed and this isn't Billy.  Like Pop said, this is just a mindless grunt." 
    Jake pulled the safety goggles off his face and tossed them to the floor then reached up and pulled the