Vendetta

Beneath the Surface

Edward and I sat on the couch, the tension between us thick and suffocating. The weight of the day's events hung heavily in the air. I clenched my fists, my jaw set in anger, while Edward stared blankly at the floor, his face a mask of frustration and rage. Sarah, sitting beside me, tried to console me, her hand gently rubbing my back.

"I can't believe the department didn't let me take the case. It's a complete joke," I muttered, my voice low and seething.

Sarah continued her soothing motions, her voice calm and reassuring. "I know, Jordi. It's infuriating, but we'll find a way. We always do."

Edward, sitting across from us, couldn't contain his anger. "How can they do this? How can they be so brutal?" His eyes were filled with a mix of confusion and fury.

Sarah turned to Edward, her brow furrowed in concern. "Do we know who did this?"

I shook my head, my expression grim. "No, we don't. Not yet."

Just then, Katherine entered the room, her face pale but composed. All eyes turned to her as she approached. Edward's gaze lingered on her, filled with unspoken words and desperate questions, but she avoided his eyes, focusing on Sarah and me instead.

"What's the situation?" I asked, my voice tight with anxiety.

Katherine took a deep breath, her voice steady but heavy with the weight of her words. "The body was found near the industry. They shot him three times and killed him before beheading him." Her tone was clinical, detached, as if speaking about it too personally would break her.

Edward's eyes widened in shock, his anger giving way to a deeper, more profound sadness. "Why would they do this?"

Katherine continued to ignore Edward, directing her words to Sarah and me. "We don't have any leads yet, but it was clearly a message. They wanted to instill fear."

Sarah, who had been observing the silent tension between Katherine and Edward, finally spoke up. "Is everything okay between you two?" she asked, looking from Katherine to Edward and back.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "There were some... fights between them. Now Katherine's angry with Edward."

Edward stood abruptly, frustration etched across his face. "I'm going to get some air," he muttered, walking out the door. Katherine followed soon after, her eyes still avoiding his.

Once they were gone, Sarah turned to me, her eyes sparkling with amusement, a small smile playing on her lips. "So, I was right. There is something between them." She laughed lightly, teasingly nudging me.

My mind flashed back to the moment I discovered Edward and Katherine's relationship, the awkwardness of the situation still fresh in my memory. I shifted uncomfortably, trying to brush it off.

But Sarah, sensing my discomfort, made a cute face and teased me further. "You need to patch them up, sweetie. I liked them both together. Just move your wand and do some magic."

I sighed, knowing I couldn't resist Sarah's charm. "Alright, alright. I'll see what I can do."

Sarah beamed, her eyes twinkling with delight. "Thank you, love. You're the best."

The tension in the room began to ease as Sarah and I shared a tender moment. She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. "We'll get through this, Jordi. Together."

As the night grew darker, the atmosphere outside reflected the growing storm within the group. The snow continued to fall, blanketing the world in a cold, unforgiving silence. The wind howled, a haunting reminder of the chaos lurking just beneath the surface.