Fame < Infamy

Part 5

Since Rocky revealed what our assignment from The Contact was, he and I immediately began planning. We'd have to put the others to work, too. Ross wasn't happy when he heard that part, but when we threatened to leave him in Arkansas he saw our way. I felt a bit bad for it, but we knew he wouldn't let us do it. Ryland seemed to slowly be coming terms with it, it was a bit shocking but a pleasant surprise. The only person we hesitated with was Rydel, for obvious reasons. We thought of having her befriend Priscilla Parker, but then we realized we couldn't put Madi to work. Or Raven. Or Catherine. So she could be out of commission for weeks at a time. Didn't seem worth putting her in more jeopardy to be be hurt, she'd have to be involved on a more situational basis. Ell liked that plan better too, not that I cared much for that.

On the final leg of the trip, I spent time googling our target on my phone. Priscilla Parker is the daughter or Preston and Penelope Parker. Preston was some big wig in Charleston, but Priscilla decided at age 20 she wanted to move to Nashville and become a country singer. Mommy and Daddy weren't happy about it, but they let their little girl go and pursue her passion. She never made it, a vocal surgery made sure of that. But it didn't matter, Preston and Penelope set her up with Gabriel Jenkins. He was some huge record label guy, or he was until Priscilla had him murdered so she could marry her new lover. She was acquitted, but her lover went to prison. The coverage on the trial and her acquittal made her a star in Nashville, well, all over the south. Everyone knew she was guilty and bought her acquittal, but no one cared.  She was a star, and that's what she wanted to be.

"Do you have to do this, Riker?" Rydel's voice brought me out of my google search. She's woken up as herself a couple of hours ago, but I didn't doubt that when she went to sleep she'd be someone new. Ell and the boys were asleep, it was just me, her, and Rocky awake at the moment.

"Yes we do, Del," Rocky answered, nodding. She sighed.

"I-I don't like this...." She whispered, tears running down her face, "W-why did you have to take us?"

"We wanted to be a family," I answered, "Even if you are Mrs. Ratliff now." I stuck my tongue out at her. She looked at her hands. I frowned. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I didn't want her to revert, but I didn't want to be without my sister either. Call me crazy, but she was the only girl I was ever close to. I'm not one to date, but who knows. Maybe in Nashville I could find the girl of my dreams. If anyone who could love a supposed psychopath like me, that is.

"I was getting better, Riker," She whispered back, "I want to get better for Ellington. So he doesn't have to be married to a freak like me."

"You can get better with us," Rocky said, "Surrounded by people who love you."

Rydel Lynch

Hello, Nashville. Never once had I imagined that I would ever call this place my home, or anywhere in the South for that matter, but it seemed decent. We weren't really in Nashville, just on a ranch in nearby Murfreesboro.

I didn't like these new plans one bit, but I didn't know what else to do. Mom and dad were gone. Ryland and Ross needed someone to look up to. I wasn't exactly the best choice, but it was the best option besides Ellington. Knowing that Riker and Rocky killed mom and dad kind of changed the way I looked at them. And now they planned on killing someone else, too.

I hated to say it, but it was becoming clear to me that my brothers were the cold hearted murderers everyone thought they were.

"Hey Regina," Ell teased.My new ID had me listed as Regina May, engaged to Jackson Duke. Aka Ell. I sighed, "I need in the bedroom too." I sighed, opening the door. He came in and frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"I just lost my mom and dad. My brothers are deranged killers. I'm mentally insane. You pick, Ell." He sighed, pulling me close.

"I'm going to the police. This isn't going to help you." I shook my head.

"I can't do that to them," I whispered, "I'm just sorry they dragged you into it..."

"Hey, Delly. I married you. I'm glad I'm here with you, so I can know you're taken care of..." He kissed my forehead and began to rub my back. I fell asleep, eventually.

Riker Lynch

It hurt, I'll admitted. I'd been outside of Rydel's room to invite them to dinner when I heard them. She thinks I'm a murderer.

But as upset as I was, it didn't matter. I had a job to do, I'd worry about Rydel later. I mean, I'm pretty pissed now. We rescued her from mom and dad. A lot of what I'd done for her. And she thinks I'm a murderer. It stung. She was the one I'd always been closer to.

"You okay?" Rocky asked as I came downstairs. I sighed.

"Let's just go to Dinner. I need alcohol."