Suddenly, she didn’t think they would be safe anywhere. But she looked at the others, and she didn’t think she could share this opinion, either.
Samuel’s expression was hard. He was irritated and annoyed by what was happening, she could tell, but most of all, he was worried and uneasy about what would happen now. When she looked at her mom, she saw Morganna had almost the exact look on her face that Samuel did, only there was an underlying determination that worried Camila.
The worst of them, was Brianna. She had been making big strides recently, but looking at her right then, it was like she had reverted to what she was like before she and Camila started getting really close and spending lots of time together. She sat alone at one edge of the couch, looking pitiful, yet at the same time as if she would rather be left alone. She was curled into herself, hugging her knees as she rocked lightly, a vacant look in her face.
Scariest of all, were her eyes. While her expression looked vacant, her eyes looked very alert, and very terrified. More than ever, Camila was sure whatever happened to Brianna that put her in the condition she met her in, definitely had something to do with Adrien.
Camila wasn’t sure she wanted to know what he could possibly have done to his own sister that she would refuse to talk for most of her life and still be terrified of him. Especially since Adrien would have been a teenager or young adult around that time, and Brianna must have been terribly young.
Something vibrated, catching all their attention, and Camila watched as Samuel released her and pulled his phone out of his pocket. His jaw tightened, before he looked at her and his expression softened just the slightest bit.
“I need to step outside, the police have more information they want to give me. You three just stay in here, all right? Go to the kitchen and ask if you want something to eat. I promise I won’t be long.”
Camila wanted to tell him not to go, but he pecked a kiss on her lips, then turned and strode back outside. She watched his back, her worry increasing tenfold the moment he was out of her sight. She wasn’t the only one Adrien would have a grudge against, after all. back then, when he went to attack her at her place, Samuel had been the one to stop him and get him arrested, and she doubted that would endear him to a brother he already didn’t like, or so that was the impression she got about the relationship between the two of them.
“Camila.”
She turned at the sound of her mom’s voice, and faced Morganna’s grim expression. Her mom glanced over at Brianna, before tugging her over to the side to just barely be out of sight. She had her purse hung over her shoulder, and she opened it, reaching inside for something.
“Camila,” her mom said, tone serious. “I want you to listen to me right now. Can you do that for your mother?”
Camila nodded immediately. She would do anything for her mom, of course, and especially since she was also in this because Camila made a wrong decision.
“I want you to take care of yourself. No matter what. Take this, and keep it with you. If anything happens, don’t hesitate to use it, all right? I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens.”
She was confused as to what her mom meant, but then her jaw dropped when her mom pulled a gun out from her purse.
“Mom!” she hissed quietly, looking around, as if worried the cops would run inside and see them with the gun. “I’m pretty sure you’re not licensed to carry!”
Morganna’s lips pressed flatly together. “You’re right, I’m not supposed to have this, but it’s for protection. I have my own knives with me, so I should be fine no matter what. If you won’t take the gun, at least take one of the knives. You can conceal it somewhere on you, please. If you don’t do this for me, I will feel uneasy.”
Camila didn’t see how carrying a weapon would help. Besides, she had no idea how to use a gun, she’d never used one before, not even in games. She held one not that long ago, and it wasn’t an experience she wanted to remember.
In the end, she chose to go with a concealed knife, and her mom helped her put it away so it wouldn’t be noticed. She wouldn’t say it, but in a way, having something to defend herself with did make her feel a little better, too.