Chapter Fifteen
Camila’s scream was loud, and because the door was still open, it carried. In no time at all, her mom and Samuel had come running up behind her, and when they saw her standing there, terrified, they both rushed forward, only to see the same thing she had.
They acted quickly.
“Camila!” Samuel called, tugging her out of the way, gently, but with enough force that she couldn’t resist.
She was moved out of the room as Samuel and Morganna rushed in, both of them pulling out guns.
Camila held back the urge to let out another scream. She knew about her mom’s weapon, but she hadn’t known Samuel had been walking around with a gun. When had he grabbed it? Had he had it on him when they were together in the bedroom? She frowned. She knew he was former military, so he probably knew how to use one. However, it had never crossed her mind that he was prepared for something like this.
Brianna could do nothing but stand still, making soft sounds in her throat, as Adrien held her threateningly. She shot pleading looks to the three of them, and watching her, Camila put a hand over her mouth as a sob nearly broke through, her eyes misting with tears.
Why did this have to affect Brianna, too? And in such a way. She looked so terrified and it was making Camila’s heart ache, because she felt she was to blame for this.
“Adrien,” Samuel said, his voice low and dangerous. “Let Brianna go, right now. Whatever plan you have, stop it right now, or I swear I will shoot you.”
Adrien didn’t look the least bit fazed at his brother’s cold tone, even letting out a chuckle as he pressed the gun further into Brianna’s neck, making her whimper and tremble.
“You can go ahead and try, brother,” he said happily. “But why don’t we test whose fingers would be faster on the trigger, hmm? Brianna and I could both die, and wouldn’t that leave you burden free, huh?”
Samuel’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t dare to move closer or say another word, and neither did Morganna. Camila could only stand to the side like a cheerleader, being no help in the confrontation at all.
“How’s about it, big brother,” Adrien taunted. “Shoot me, why don’t you? Right now. Even if you shoot faster than I do, my hand could just seize up and I’d end up pressing the trigger, anyway. Then, bam! There goes little sister’s head.”
Adrien started laughing, and for the first time, Camila seriously wondered if he’d actually gone crazy.
After a while, though he sighed. “This is getting boring real quickly, big bro. If you don’t mind, I’ve got a time limit here, and I need to get going, so I don’t have time to be playing with you.”
The three of them went on the alert, waiting for whatever Adrien would do. They didn’t expect for him to start moving forward, pushing Brianna along as he did. With his tight grip on her and the muzzle of a gun pushing into her neck, even if she was frozen in fear, she could only move forward like he wanted. Camila saw both Samuel and her mom grow tense, but neither of them tried to shoot. Instead, as Adrien continued to advance, they retreated.
They didn’t have a choice. This was a standoff and even though their side had more numbers, it didn’t matter. Adrien had a hostage. As he’d said, even if they managed to accurately shoot him without hurting Brianna, he might still get off a shot at the last minute. Brianna could be injured, or even die. Camila knew why Samuel didn’t dare risk it, and she also knew that no matter how resolved her mom would be, she wouldn’t be willing to risk a helpless young girl just to kill the bastard, either.
It was an impossible situation to be in. Camila could only wish the police would realize what was going on and rush in, but even faintly, as they moved down the corridor, she could hear the commotion still going on outside.
“You know, Samuel,” Adrien said conversationally as they moved. “If not for you, none of this would even be happening.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Samuel said tightly.
Adrien just laughed some more. “Of course you don’t know, Samuel, you never do. You were always like that, so fucking annoying. If you’d just died while in service, everything would have been perfect. But you just had to come back and act as if you were the boss of everything. Well, you weren’t. You never were. Everything you have? It should all have been mine, and only mine.”
What he was saying didn’t make much sense to Camila. His voice was casual, as if he was just speaking about the weather, so she couldn’t say if was jealous or envious of Samuel or if he hated him.
Camila had been backing away with the two of them, but when they hit the stairs, Adrien unexpectedly stopped, and his eyes turned to her. She jumped as if she’d been electrocuted, then went still, as if that would be enough to get him to ignore her presence once more.
“Samuel and you,” he pointed at Camila’s mom, “down the stairs. Camila, if you don’t want anything happening to Brianna, stay put.”
All three of them froze. Even though a part of her had expected it, Camila had the sudden urge to cry. He really had come back for her. To get revenge? Against her or his brother? She didn’t know, but it was obvious things weren’t going to end well for her.
Both Samuel and her mom glanced at her, but Camila couldn’t do a thing about it. There was no way she could let Adrien shoot Brianna, no matter how scared out of her wits she was.
“I mean it, Samuel,” Adrien suddenly growled, showing his first true sign of impatience as he forced Brianna a few more steps forward, digging the gun into her neck so she made a noise of pain and distress.
“It’s fine,” Camila said, trying to steady her voice as much as she was able. “Do what he says.”
Samuel and her mom still hesitated, but when Adrien continued to move forward, they reluctantly backed away, throwing glances at both her and Brianna. Camila stood in place, watching Brianna, her heart going out to the younger girl. Even though she was scared, if it meant Brianna could live through this, she wouldn’t mind if Adrien did whatever he wanted with her.
When Adrien stood at the top of the stairs with Brianna, Samuel and her mom were about halfway down. Camila didn’t know what would happen now. She didn’t think he would go down with Brianna, but if he just let her walk down on her own, he would be free to get shot at.