She Loses All by Georgia Wagner

Author:Georgia Wagner [Wagner, Georgia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-08T16:00:00+00:00

12

Forester's hand trailed against ferns extending past the trail, brushing against him as he moved down the incline towards the crime scene.

He heard the sound of rushing water, the scent of the stream, heavy on the air, accompanying the fragrance of foliage and flowers.

He shot a look back to spot where Artemis Blythe was moving, slower, accompanying one of the arboretum's staff that had led them to the location. At the bottom of the hill, he spotted police moving about the scene of the crime. For the moment, he hadn't yet noted the bodies.

As Forester moved down the hill, he inhaled slowly, frowning. He shot another look back over his shoulder.

He wasn't usually one given to reading other peoples' emotions. Not because he wasn't perfectly capable of understanding the expression they wore, but because they were often unfamiliar to him. It wasn't his language, almost as if he'd studied another tongue just to accommodate his status as a tourist.

He often felt like a tourist among people. Especially those with heightened emotions and stronger feelings.

Artemis Blythe was one such woman.

She was a genius. Analytical, brilliant. That much had been obvious at first. But the more he got to know her, the more it became apparent that lurking underneath it all, there was a strong sense of compassion. A strong sense of hidden pain.

He'd never felt compassion the way others did. Not really.

At least... not for anyone else since her.

He frowned at the memory, feeling an uncomfortable lance through his chest. He paused, standing with one hand bending a fern leaf back. He held it there, watching the way the branch curved at the stem and loosing a small breath of air.

He had felt certain emotions. Strong emotions. Some he'd never thought he'd experience.

But that had all gone away seven years ago, hadn't it?

And somehow... Artemis' father had known about it.

He'd known what Forester had done about it.

The tall agent frowned, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. He knew he'd scared Artemis. She wasn't the only one who could read body language. Now, she lingered back, keeping her distance. Clearly scared.

He hadn't meant to scare her.

In fact, he'd been trying to protect her.

He knew, firsthand, what happened when one didn't protect the people they loved. When one tried to lead with things like mercy or compassion.

People died.

He scowled at the memory of her. She'd been... not perfect... no... but...

He sighed, trying not to think too much of her. It had been her fault he'd shown mercy to the man who'd eventually killed her. Had been her pleading with him that had gotten through to his heart.

And in the end, his willingness to listen to her had cost him every damn thing he'd ever cared for.

His hand curled into a fist at his side, and he took a moment to steady himself.

He shook his head. No.

No, far better to forget about that type of thinking. There were benefits to having his chemical make-up. Benefits to living a life without the encumbrances and boundaries outlined by affection or pity or empathy.

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