CH.42

We boarded the plane together a few hours later, but the tension between us was palpable, almost a living force in and of itself.

Karl kept his distance, slouched beside me with his arms crossed over his chest and his jaw locked in a tight line.

He shot me hard stares whenever our eyes met, his gaze burning with an intensity that made me shift uncomfortably in my seat like a scolded child.

I hated his wild, unhinged look in those moments when the promise of violence simmered just beneath the surface. But I had no idea what had triggered this particular mood.

The not knowing, the constant uncertainty of how to walk on eggshells around him to avoid setting off another powder keg, was slowly driving me mad.

We soon approached the house, my anxiety growing a thousandfold with every mile we drew closer to the isolated, sprawling estate.

I knew I would have to tell Karl the news about my meeting with Felix soon. There was no way to avoid the inevitable confrontation, no matter how mu