Page 38 of Prey It By Ear

Lucille and Bruno’s underworld stuff funded my lifestyle for a long time, and I had no idea what they were doing outside of the things that happened within our walls. I knew that felt wrong, but the way they taught me that ‘true preds’ behaved made it seem like I was just defective and no one else would care about the shit they pulled. At least, not if they were normal, which it was ingrained that I was not.

Now I realize that while preds can be vicious and their vengeance violent, that doesn’t mean they’re all running around killing everyone constantly for the tiniest slight. They don’t all act like prey shifters are beneath them, and the world wasn’t always geared toward our dominance. It was all engineered by the ancestors of a bunch of rich fuckwads and perpetuated for so long that most preds remember nothing beyond the current state of affairs.

It makes me feel like shit, but that’s more self-pity than anything, and rather than sink into it, I’m part of the solution—or will be once we get there.

“So we’ve gone over the prey guru’s translation, and the things we found out while with the clutch. Chess has the schedules aligned for the crew and everyone to make sure Dolly isn’t alone. What else?” Rennie says as he squints at the boards.

Farley snorts, sipping his bourbon as he arches a brow at his camera. “I think you’ve done punched every ticket we’ve got, buddy. This might be the longest meeting I’ve ever attended that didn’t end in some sort of treaty or declaration of war.”

“I highly doubt that, unc,” Rufus says on a yawn. “You argue shit for months on end when you work for the fam.”

“Boy, you might be grown, but Meemaw gave me permission to whip your ass if you piss me off. Don’t test me.” The elder badger winks, but I guarantee he’s not really joking. Ru-Ru’s family shit is complex as far as he’s explained, and I’m pretty sure the matriarch can actually give permission for that sort of thing.

Coco pats our friend’s arm, her expression full of understanding. “It was nice knowing you. We’ll think of you fondly when your uncle takes you out.”

“Oh, stop it,” I say with a mock glare. “No need for us to get cranky with one another. I know this is a lot, and it’s overwhelming. That’s what I was just feeling, especially when I think about the past and my parents’ involvement. The reality is that we’re doing everything we can to work together, fix the wrongs, and survive. It will not be easy or fun sometimes, but anything worth having is worth working for.”

“Niiiice cheesy pep talk,” Zhenga says, her eyes sparkling. “You might make a good coach someday.”

I roll my eyes as I groan. “Absolutely not. After we figure out this nightmare and I graduate, I want to do nothing that involves being in charge of anyone but the five idiots I’m mated to.”

Felix smirks at me. “In charge, huh?”

“Shut up, bro. She’s being serious,” Fitz says as he growls softly. “And I agree. Most of us in the room, besides the Captain and his family, have ties to this bullshit, so it’s natural that we’re gonna feel guilty, Baby Girl. But you’re right about doing something about it and not worrying what that will mean for us afterward. I think we’re good for the moment on plans, but we should meet up again after the first month to adjust, right, Chessie?”

The cheetah practically beams at our shared mate. “Yes, I agree. Raina? Farley? Crew? Anyone else disagree?”

There’s a low buzz as people voice their agreement, and once it seems to have died down, I rise to my feet. “Okay. Then we are adjourned for the evening in terms of business. Farley can get back to whatever lawyer crap he’s doing, and the rest of us can chat for a little bit before it’s time to hit the sack.”

“Over an’ out, pretty bunny rabbit. I’ll reach out if it’s needed, and you holler if I have to send some more muscle.”

With that, the badger clicks off the screen, and my shoulders slump as I look around. Today has been exhausting, but I am glad to see everyone here and safe. It takes a huge load off me to know that we’re not split to hell and back, where it’s easier to pick the herd off one by one. Walking over to the counter as people jabber, I pick up a small plate and pile some more food on it. I know I haven’t eaten enough if I’m worn out this early, even if we just got back and have spent the day draining our brains to prepare for this meeting.

“Dollypop, you’re just sparkling like a diamond when you take the wheel now,” Rufus says as he comes up beside me to grab more meat. “I knew you had it in you the moment I saw you walking around the theater that day, and I was even happier when you showed up to class.”

I arch a brow at him, my expression wry. “I think you tried to challenge me when I was on the tour, and when I showed up, you were happy to have someone with even a minimum of training for the shows.”

“Tomay-to, to-mah-to,” the badger says as he looks for more treats. “I won’t deny that I was totally over running shows with Coco, me, and a bunch of lunkheads. But I also saw something in you that made me decide we’d take you in—I have no idea what my brain was thinking except that you were one of us. I would have adopted you even if you sang every tune flat as a board.”

That’s a lot coming from Mr. Perfectionism, so I take it for what he intends without demurring. “Thanks, babe. I’m glad we found each other, too, and even more so that you brought your crazy cousin in. He and the Postmen have really proved their mettle.”

Snorting, Rufus rolls his eyes. “The family doesn’t give him enough challenges. Farley knocks out all the boring business stuff so easily now that he’s often in need of a battle to fight. I killed two birds with one stone by having you take your shit to him. He’s gonna make mincemeat of the vulture eventually and probably will eviscerate whatever bullshit your mother put into the Drew family docs once we get rid of her.”

I frown. “I didn’t even think about that. Lucille has always seemed… invincible in my head. Like she can’t be killed, even by aging.”

“It doesn’t help that she’s a shifter—Memaw is so old she remembers shit history books have forgotten.” Rufus stops, blinking as he looks at me. “Motherfucker, I need to talk to Memaw, don’t I?”

I bite my lip as I say, “Probably? I don’t have a frame of reference, but if you aren’t exaggerating, then how is a normal badger shifter that old?”

Leaning against the counter, Rufus closes his eyes and growls under his breath. “D, I’ve never asked anyone about that shit before. Like, I knew it was weird how old they all live, but we have all these family trees and books and oral histories… It’s everywhere at home, like it is in a lot of Southern families. I never once considered questioning what I’d been told. Who would? I didn’t have a reason.”

My lips twist as I commiserate with him silently. I also never thought to ask questions I should have, and I guess it’s because I was afraid and naïve. Everyone has that kind of moment in adulthood, the guys have told me, and now it’s my bestie’s time to do it, too. “Yeah, well, I know how you feel. Like I said, I’m still trying to figure out how I missed all the red flags in my life, but in the end? It doesn’t matter how I missed them; I just have to do better now that I know.”

“Which makes the money and all the inheritance stuff a bit of a sticky wicket, hmm?”

Turning to see Aubrey looking at me, I nod. “Yes. I guess being truly exiled, you don’t have to worry about it. Rennie’s family is in hiding, but if we win this thing, he’ll have to deal with what comes next with them. And the twins will definitely have a lot to consider if this goes our way because their family is balls deep in everything bad, just like mine.”

“Snack size, none of this has to be dealt with right now—or even soon. We have enough on our plate as it is without adding imaginary outcomes to the load.” The dragon grabs a plate, too, piling it high with things I know both he and my gargoyle enjoy. “I overheard the badger say your attorney can help, and I trust you will do what you feel is right once the time comes. For now, that has to be enough to allow you to sleep.”