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Chapter 5

Ryder sat in the living room of his apartment watching TV. Brittney was about to have an interview on TV about the shooting and he needed to make sure she didn't say to much. They had gone over it many times, but he had to make sure. When the show came on Brittney sat in a chair, smiling. She wore a pair of black slacks, a pair of silver sparkly heels, a violet top that made her green eyes pop, and a silver and diamond necklace that looked like a tie. She had her arm in a sling to keep her from tearing her stitches.

Tiffany Spings, the host of the show, was next to her. "So Brittney, let's talk about the fundraiser you recently had for the Children's hospital." Tiffany said to Brittney, causing her to look at the host. "What about it?" Brittney asked her. "Is it true you killed three people at the concert?" The host asked her. Ryder sat up in his chair, how did she know? Brittney seemed to be unfazed by the question. She nodded, "I did. My body guard, who is also my friend, and I were cornered. They shot us both, and I did what I had too, to ensure we lived to see the next day." Brittney told her calmly. "Was it your brother, who was part of the Stone Edge gang, who taught you how to shoot?" Tiffany asked her. Ryder watched for Brittney's reaction, but she was a good actress. She nodded, "He did, but that was even before he joined the gang. We grew up in a not so safe neighborhood, and he wanted to make sure I could take care of myself in case one day he wasn't here." "Do you think your brother's death has anything to do with the shooting?" Tiffany asked her. The only sign Brittney gave that the question bothered her was that she moved a piece of hair that had fallen in her eyes. "There hasn't been any confirmation from the police. I didn't know what he did, he kept his business in the gang to himself, so even if there was some link I don't know what that link is."

"Are you scared that they'll come after you for what you did?" She asked Brittney. Ryder had never felt so damn nervous about an answer before. If she answered saying she wasn't scared Laughing Coffin would take offense to that, and if she said she would, Laughing Coffin would take that and use it. "Coming after me, would honestly be a waste of their time and resources. After the shooting I've ensured I'm well protected. The police department have declared their shooting at the fundraiser as a terrorist act, and any members seen will be arrested on sight and will be punished as a terrorist group." Ryder didn't know what to say to that. He didn't know how they would react to that either.

He then had an idea come into his head and pulled out his phone.

Brittney sighed when they went to break. One after another the questions had kept coming, trying to disgrace the things she did, trying to make her self defense seem wrong. Her phone had been blowing up the entire time from Twitter where many fans, and other celebrities were talking about her answers and the shooting. She scrolled through  the feed, the posts were mixed of either commending her for her act of bravery in protecting her friend and some were declaring her a criminal. She did have more supporters than damners though. As she looked them over she began to recognize some of the names as people in the gang. Even Liam had posted one.

Girly, you saved my life. Fuck what the haters say, thanks for saving my ass.

It made her smile softly. When the break was over she tucked her phone into her pocket. "So with your injury, how is this going to affect your future performances?" Tiffany asked Brittney. "The doctors said I should be healed in a couple of weeks and there isn't any permanent damage. So I should be back to performing in no time." Tiffany smiled a fake smile, "So do you feel any guilt for what you did? Those people were someone's brother, son, father, and you took them from their loved ones." Brittney looked at her, "What about my friend who was nearly killed, what about the others that were shot during the whole ordeal? Why should I feel guilty for someone who clearly didn't care who was killed during their shooting? I feel I did the world a favor for making sure less people like that walked the streets." There were claps and whistles from the audience.

"What about the Stone Edge gang your brother was apart of? They do bad things as well, what do you feel should happen to them?" Tiffany asked her once the clapping had ceased. Shit, Brittney thought. Backed into a damn corner. "Stone Edge hasn't gone out and shoot up a place. They don't even make the news, so we don't really know what it is they do. For all we know, what they do is completely legal  so I'm not going to jump to conclusions without knowing everything." Brittney saw the annoyance in Tiffany's eyes. She's wanting to make Brittney look bad to make a bigger profit, but Brittney wasn't going to let her. A fight of words, is one Brittney can easily win hands down. Her whole career she's been fighting off the disgrace that people see regarding her brother. She takes her hits, but she doesn't let them knock her down.

When the interview was over Brittney went over to Zeke and Nash, the new body guards Ryder had assigned to her. "You good?" Nash asked her. She shrugged her good shoulder, "Let's get going, I need a burger and a coke." After getting some fast food they took her back to her house. Ryder was sitting in her living room drinking a glass of water.

"Nice way at answering the questions."He said while holding up his glass of water. "It's a talent of mine." She said kicking off her heels and opened the bag of food. "So what brings you here?" "When you said the Laughing Coffin group was being now seen as a terrorist group I decided to go inform your detective friend the location of where their hideout is. We should soon hear how the raid goes." He explained while helping her take the wrapper off of her burger. "Well played of you sir." She said before taking a bite of her burger. "If they're gone, are you going to take their territory?" He shook his head, "Nah, they destroyed that area making it worthless." She nodded, "I see."

Suddenly David was in the living room with her manager Peppa. "You did a fantastic job today. So good you were invited to several other talk shows!" Peppa said excitedly. "I thought we agreed I only do want to get my side of the story out there and that be it?" Brittney asked her. "We did, but this is making you so big Brit!" Peppa declared. "I don't want to big for this, I want to be big for my talent, for my music." Brittney told her. "You know the saying, all publicity is good publicity." Peppa countered. Brittney rolled her eyes, "Not when they want to drag your loved ones through the dirt." "Honey, they're going to do that to get under your skin. You know that by now." Peppa said with a wave of her hand. "The answer is no to the talk shows." Brittney told her. Peppa huffed, "Fine, what about the Celeb Gala?"

The Celeb Gala was an event hosted by the most famous man on the planet, Rodgers Proctor. He's been in many movies, shows, and even has a couple of books. Getting invited, means he sees you as something. He is the one who personally invites each and every guest. Getting an invite would cement her place and get her many things. Possibly even some amazing collaborations from amazing artists. She pursed her lips as she thought. "Will she be able to have a body guard with her?" Ryder asked Peppa. Peppa looked him over, "And you are?" "Head of my protection detail." Brittney told her. "Ryder, this is Peppa, my manager." Peppa looked him over, "I didn't know he'd be so handsome Brittney. The only other person who can go into the event with her is a date. If you're head of her protection, then you can protect her as her date."

Brittney wanted to protest, but instead Ryder nodded, "Fine, as her date I'll go." Brittney saw this possibly spelling disaster. Peppa smiled and clasped her hands together, "Great I'll make the arrangements to have a tux tailored and a dress fitted." Then Peppa was gone but left Brittney with a major headache. She looked at Ryder and he just smirked. The gang leader as her date, yep spells disaster for sure.