Read Whatever It Takes for Free Online

got to remain strong with these orders and directions though. Do you understand?”
    Percival shook his head. “I don’t want this. Didn’t want it to begin with.”
    “Good leaders rarely do. It’s tough. I know, I’ve been there. I also know you’ll suck it up and move on. Take your time tonight to cry into Sarah’s shoulder. It’s part of her job. I’ll command watches tonight.” Karl’s flashlight swung away from Percival as he turned to leave. “I know you’ll pull through this and you’ll be a stronger man because of it.”
    “That all you’ve got to say?” Percival called after him.
    “No.” Karl paused at the door to the door. He didn’t turn back. “I’ll always have your back, Percival. Might get me killed one of these days, but I’ll keep supporting you. You’re the kind of individual the next generation needs, and I’ll back that any day.”
    Percival watched the man leave. He wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about the whole talk he’d just received. He certainly felt awkward for snapping at him. He slammed his fist into the counter. The physical act of frustration helped to vent some of the emotional stress he was feeling.
    He hoped, at some level, that it never got easier to cause the deaths of people.

Chapter 3
     
    Percival woke in darkness. It didn’t feel like the normal comforting darkness he was used to. He wondered for a moment, as anxiety grew in his chest, where he was. The bed was comfortable enough, but it just wasn’t quite right. He twisted and swung his arm wide. He felt only sheets. He had expected to feel the cold metal of his gun or crowbar. He thrashed and bolted up right, gasping and straining his eyes to see in the darkness.
    A soft moan came from his right.
    “Hey… It’s cold out there. If you want to get up, get up and give the blanket back. Otherwise, lay back down and snuggle up with me.” Sarah’s voice drifted sweetly through the darkness.
    It wasn’t the hungry moan of the undead. His heart slowly fell back to its normal pace. His breathing followed suit as he lay back down. He tugged the blanket back up to his shoulder and slid under the sheets right up next to Sarah. He slid his arms around her naked body and held her as memories of the past day came back.
    She murmured softly in a sleepy voice, “I’m not interested in round three yet.”
    He let out a soft laugh that sounded incredibly sad in his ears and kissed her cheek before nuzzling his forehead against her neck. “The first two were enough for the whole night.”
    “Wanting pillow talk then?”
    He shook his head. “Not entirely. Wishing times like this would last forever, is all.”
    “You’re not dwelling, are you?” Sarah had perked up, the sleepiness falling away from her voice. She shifted in his arms.
    “Maybe a little bit,” Percival admitted.
    “I’ll climb back up on top of you and you’ll like it if you keep doing that,” She warned.
    He heard the playfulness in her voice and knew exactly what she meant. He was certain she was hornier than most guys he’d known. “You wouldn’t. You don’t want to waste all the condoms in one night.”
    “Psh,” she muttered. She added in a teasing tone, “Like you could keep it up all night long to do that.”
    He shook his head and kissed her. “Whatever.”
    He felt her hand slide down his body, and he stopped her well before she got to his crotch. “Not now.”
    “You need to forget. We both do.” She referred to her own breakdown at the sight of someone who’d committed suicide and hadn’t even been a zombie.
    “I need to accept the reality.”
    “Reality is: you didn’t kill her. You didn’t sign a warrant, you didn’t tell her to jump off a bridge.” Sarah sounded irritated. “Now stop beating yourself up over it.”
    “She trusted me to get her home safe.” Percival let go of Sarah’s hand and she slid it back up to rest on his chest.
    “Shit happens, Percival. Shit happens and we just have to keep