Page 65 of Eat. Prey. Love.
Dolly’s eyes widen and she whips her head to look at my twin, who shrugs. “Princess, I told you we were going to get serious about the professors in that photo. It’s better we did it than Farley sending his goons in. I’m fairly certain they’re even more direct than us and with less concern about what effect it will have on your day-to-day life.”
She chuckles, giving him a lop-sided grin. “You’re saying they’re a nuke to drive a nail, yeah?”
“Exactement,” Ren replies as he drops into his chair. “We should only ask your badger counsel to send his crew of enforcers when it is dire unless we want bigger messes to attend to.”
“That’s probably true,” Rufus says as he scratches his chin. “My cousin is fucking brilliant at what he does, because he rarely gives a shit what size the blast radius is. He does what needs to be done, when it needs to be, and moves on. Fallout isn’t his specialty, so he’s actually being unusually graceful about how he’s handling your issues.”
“I’m special that way,” Dolly says with a bright smile.
Inching closer on my knees, I look up at her. “You’re special in every way to us, Baby Girl, and it’s not surprising others think so as well. Do you know how many times Zhenga has lost her shit—like really lost it like today—in the years we’ve all known her?”
The bunny shifter shakes her head, looking at Rufus and Cori, who also shrug.
“Like three, Princess,” Felix says seriously. “Today, once when her dad handed things he shouldn’t to her brother, and once at a new professor who no longer breathes air on this planet. Her control is one of the things she’s well known for—at least, when it comes to her temper. In other things, not so much.”
Our girl snorts, muttering, “No shit, Sherlock.” Her friends laugh, and even Felix cracks another grin. “But I didn’t know that; you’re right.”
Chess finally speaks up from his spot in the kitchen and I’m surprised to see him toss back a bourbon. I was so caught up in wanting to murder the fucking wolf that I didn’t notice he’s been almost like a ghost in this situation. “Now that you’ve made up, it seems she’s intent on being part of our extended family, Angel. So she’s certainly going to stand up when she feels it’s warranted. Zhenga has many flaws, and maybe she’s finally coming to grips with those—that makes me happy for her. Being friends with you and the rest of the people you’ve taken in might be part of that. So of course, she told Felix the truth. She wanted him to know you weren’t safe, but she helped.”
“Here I thought she was tattling on us,” the badger grumbles.
Coco shakes her head, the rainbow curls flying. “I don’t think she wanted to impress Felix. That shit scared her; I could see it in her eyes with her fury. She didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
Hmmm. Probably checks out, but what am I missing here? Only our girl was in the cross-fire.
“She’s right,” Rufus says as he leans back against the couch. “The Coach was definitely protecting people.”
I let go of my girl’s hand as she turns to give her friends an odd look, rising to my feet to head over and check on my cheetah. I’ll get my vengeance for hurting my mate, though it won’t be nearly as satisfying as killing the mangy dog. But now that I’m able to get my tiger to see that she’s okay, I need to soothe my other troubled mate.
When I reach him, Chess lets me wrap around him from behind and set my chin on his shoulder. I murmur in a low tone, barely audible if no one’ s listening. “Your cat is giving you fits, my love.”
I feel his sheepishness rather than see it on his face, as I keep my gaze trained on the three sitting on the couch having some sort of wordless argument about Zhenga. “Fitzy, I’ve never wanted to kill someone so much in my entire life, not even your father.”
My chuckle is soft as I squeeze him in my arms. “Ah, Chessie. That’s what happens when your inner pred is allowed to really stretch its paws. You’ve bottled him up for so long, afraid you’d upset me or cause a scene—but my Baby Girl freed him. Now you have to learn where to channel that energy.”
“If you say in bed?—”
Snorting, I rub my cheek on his chest. “Sometimes, baby, but that’s not what I meant. You have to let the kitty have its say more often—not necessarily in the bedroom. Youlikebeing submissive there, but your cat wants to be more aggressive elsewhere. So stop putting yourself on a leash inbothways.”
His amusement filters through our bond as he grumbles, “I’veneverlet you put me on a leash, Fitzgerald Khan.”
“Ahhhh, but you’d let Dolly do it, wouldn’t you?” His shiver is answer enough and I laugh again, waiting for his soft purr to caress my skin. “Good to know. I’m always open to new experiences, especially when everyone involved is virginal.”
“Gross,” he mutters, but I know he likes the idea more than he’s letting on.
Dolly’s zeal for new experiences makes all of us get excited, even the ancient assholes, and not some weird cherry hound shit so much as seeing everything like it’s new again.
“I know what I’m ordering for Pred Day on Amazon,” I sing-song and he gives in, snickering softly. “I’ll get Baby Girl all sorts of fun stuff. We’re going to have so much fun, Chessie.”
“Are you two over there gossiping?”
Aubrey’s dry comment gets my attention and I look up, my brow arched. “No, making plans. We did agree that everyone is sharing Valentine’s Day, right? And it’s this weekend?”
“Shouldn’t we all be part of that?” My twin asks with an amused look. “Not just you two clowns?”
I’d snap back with a saucy retort, but then he might ask me what we’re discussing and I want that to be a surprise. So I wink at him while Dolly turns bright red on the couch and her friends giggle.
Baby Girl won’t know what hit her—guaranteed.