Free CovertDesires by Chandra Ryan

sound
of voices in her house. Harlow, Parker and Barkswell seemed to be arguing about
something. Maybe she really had been sick. She should probably find a way to
tell them she was okay now. Maybe then they’d stop yelling at each other.
    The floor seemed at least a mile away as she lowered her
legs from the side of the bed. But amazingly enough her feet reached it.
Standing was a whole different story, however. Her legs just didn’t seem
capable of holding her weight. She must weigh a ton today. How did she regularly
carry herself around? It seemed so easy this morning.
    She eventually gave up on trying to make sense out of it and
just crawled to the door. It was hard work though. When she finally propped
herself up against the wall she was breathing hard and her body was a little
sticky with sweat. But she still felt a sense of accomplishment. She’d made it.
Now she’d just rest for a moment before she tried to figure out how to reach
the door’s release panel and make her way into the front room.
    “What the hell were you thinking?” Barkswell’s deep voice
filled the next room.
    “I was thinking she needed to rest. She does too much. She
was just in the hospital a week ago. Or do you not remember?” Why was Harlow
yelling so loudly? Didn’t she know Rowe was sick?
    “She’s not a child. She knows her limits.”
    “Like hell. She thinks she’s ready to go back to work.”
    “She said that?” Parker’s voice was the only one soft enough
that it didn’t make her head hurt.
    “Not exactly.” Now Harlow quieted a little. The change made
Rowe sigh with gratitude. “She told me she wanted to go to a bakery. But when I
read her—”
    “You read her?” Barkswell’s loud accusation made Rowe wince.
    “Her mind was practically screaming with fear. I had to find
out if it was justified.”
    She did remember being worried. Actually she’d been worried
a lot lately.
    “Still, that doesn’t give you the right to drug her.”
    Oh that’s right. That was why nothing made sense.
    “She was going to go check on Jack. Checking on Jack would
mean going back to the office. And once she goes back they won’t be able to
keep her out. I think she proved that two years ago.”
    “It’s what she wants.”
    “She said something bad was going to happen.”
    “And you didn’t believe her?” Parker asked.
    “No. I did. I couldn’t let her walk into that. Not again.”
The sentence was broken up by odd noises that sounded like sniffles. Was Harlow
crying?
    “I know you love her but that really isn’t your call to
make. Would you like it if I drugged you every time you were going to make a
dangerous run?” Parker’s voice sounded soothing. “She’s a big girl. She can
take care of herself.”
    “When she’s aware of what’s going on, maybe. But she zones
out.”
    “Jack has her back when she zones out.”
    “Really? Like he did back at the compound? She had to save
him.”
    She’d heard enough. And thankfully the fog had mostly
cleared. She stood and put her palm against the release. Rowe’s legs were still
wobbly but they managed to hold her this time. “And what if Parker needed you
to save him? Wouldn’t you want to be there? Or would you rather be knocked out
and pushed out of the way?”
    Everybody in the room became silent as they turned to look
at her. Harlow was the first one to find her voice. “Rowe. I didn’t know you
were awake.”
    “Obviously. Or you wouldn’t be fighting in my front room
about me. My head is killing me.” She stumbled across the room on her way to
the kitchen. She needed some water and something to help with the headache. It
wasn’t until she saw the digital readout of the time that she paused. “Where is
Jack? He should’ve been here hours ago.”
    There was a shuffle behind her followed by someone clearing
his throat.
    “He sent a message. He had a break in the case and was going
to be a little late.” Harlow’s voice was pinched. She wasn’t being