Fame < Infamy

Part 6

Two Months Later

After that, our household became divided. Rydel, Ell, and Ross kept to themselves. Ross found a part time job at American Eagle, started classes at a community school, and began seeing a girl. Ell found a job at a bank and fussed over how we treated Rydel. Rydel enrolled in a dance class and started planning a honeymoon. That they'd be taking Ross with them on. Fucking weirdos. But I wasn't going to fight them on it, not if they kept our cover. Ryland, however, seemed to be adapting well to living with us. He was listening in on plans and adding his opinion, he even applied to become Priscilla's chauffeur. Who needs uber when they have a Ryland, after all? Rocky and I stayed on the down low. I started cooking at a restaurant and he was once again working in a warehouse. Everyday was the same thing. Wake up, awkward (but delicious) breakfast cooked by Rydel, work, come home and chill, awkward (but delicious) dinner cooked by Rydel, planning with Rocky and Ryland, and then bed.

But that was going to change. We had to get in with Priscilla Parker and figure out a scheme. Rocky considered trying to catch her eye romantically, but we didn't want to chance messing with the contact's son, Alex Gardner. The boy with no father, it seemed. Obviously we knew that wasn't true, but Ryland and I doing a search on him led to no results on his father. I was appreciative to The Contact, but I didn't like not knowing who I was working for. Especially in a job like this.

It was dark one night, Rydel and Ellington had gone dancing and Ross was out with Vivienne, his new lady friend. Rocky and I sat in Ryland's room as we tried to  make a plan. I felt a sliver of guilt getting my youngest brother involved, but he was old enough to make his own choices. Even if those choices included following his big brothers into becoming a cold blooded murderer.

"We could poison her," I suggested, "She has that dinner party coming up in a few weeks, always uses the same catering company. Maybe I could sneak in."

"That's risky," Rocky countered, "She may share a sip of wine or something with Alex. The boss won't like him getting hurt." I sighed, leaning back. More and more, I wished that we could use Rydel to get in close so maybe, just maybe, we could infiltrate Parker's security and make a sound plan. Suddenly, an idea popped into my head. I looked at Rocky.

"Call Jess," I said, "You said she wanted to come down. Get her to fly to Atlanta and we can pick her up." He nodded hesitantly.

"That could work, I just don't want to get her tangled in all of this again. She was lucky enough to get out of it last time... As much as I miss her..." I settled back in my chair, a soft growl escaping my lips. This was hopeless. We'd finally found a murder that was over our heads. We couldn't just throw it all in and hope for the best, that led to mistakes. Mistakes that could get us caught. I didn't want to go back to prison.

"Maybe we're going about this the wrong way," Ryland interjected. He'd been googling something the entire time we'd been talking.

"And why's that?" He moved over, there was a picture of Parker and a friend of hers at a party.

"That's Victoria McCarter. She's Priscilla's right hand woman. She's your age, Riker, and single. So maybe, just maybe, you or I can get with her. And then frame her for the murder." Rocky and I looked at each other and grinned. That could work. She was hot, and I know how to flirt when I want to.

"How do I meet her?" I asked. Ryland shrugged, pulling up twitter.

"She's at the club Rydellington is at at the moment." I nodded, snorting.

It didn't take long for us to get dressed. That was the great thing about being a guy, I guess. All I know is that Ryland, Rocky, and I looked good, and we were going to get the girl. We called uber, all of us planned to drink a bit. Hell, I wasn't opposed to body shots, either.

"So what's plan?" I asked Rocky. He grinned.

"We're gonna fight the power," He said. I chuckled a bit and climbed out of the car, and we walked in looking like we owned the joint. I looked around, Rydel and Ell were dancing in the corner. She glared when I caught her eye and went back to dancing with Ell. Well then.

"Where do you think Victoria is?" I asked Ryland. He gestured to the bar, where she was obviously getting some unwanted attention from some dude.

"Hello," I said to her, plopping on the stool on her other side, "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Please do," She said, looking over her shoulder she said to the other boy, "Get lost, Mason."

"Come on, Vic," He whined, "We had so much fun last time!"

"And now she and I are going to have fun," I responded, glaring, "Get lost." He grumbled, walking away.

"You're a lifesaver," She said, "Got a bit too drunk last week and he's been all over me ever since." I chuckled, signaling the bartender to get her another drink.

"I'm Aiden," I told her. She smiled, taking a sip of her cocktail.

"Vic," She responded.  We talked the entire time, she was actually really easy to talk to. Rocky and Ryland got trashed and left, as did Rydel and Ell. I left that night with her number and a date in the next week.

When I got home, I fell into bed and tried to sleep. My door opened as soon as I was drifting off.

"The fuck do you want?" I growled, suspecting it was Rocky. I was wrong.

"Wiker?" Rydel's voice asked, "C-Can I sleep with you?" I looked over and sighed.

"What's the matter, Madi?" I asked her. She whimpered.

"I-I had a nightmare a-and Elly wasn't there w-when I woke up," She whispered. I frowned. Where the hell was Ell? Why was he sneaking off this late at night? I scooted over and opened my arms. She climbed in. She was shaking, and clutching her teddy bear tight. I held her close.

"Much better, huh?" I asked. She nodded.

"I-I love you, W-Wiker," She whispered.

"I love you too, Madi. Get some sleep."