Page 31 of Eat. Prey. Love. (Apex Academy Capers #5)

Coach Z ran us hard at practice and I was sore by the time it was over. My new Pred Games nemesis got in my face a few times, but since Coco and Ru-Ru were running around filming, it didn’t last long. Rufus cleverly turned the camera in my direction every time O’ Leary started up; it made her back off so her bullshit wouldn’t get recorded.

He’s a smart fucking badger and I’m a lucky bunny to have him as a friend.

Cori was sitting on the sidelines at a table where she did measurements and notes for the uniforms. Zhenga seemed really excited about it, getting distracted multiple times by checking in with my bestie as she worked. The bear smiled more in a few hours than I’ve seen for awhile, so I’m feeling pretty good about suggesting she do this for one of her juries.

“What’s on the docket now, Dollypop?” Rufus asks as we head for the library. “I got a lot of footage at the practice, but I’ll need scads of film to make this damn thing before the end of the semester. I’m practically sleeping with the fucking camera.”

“Bet that makes the triplets cranky,” I say with a grin. “I’m not saying my guys wouldn’t enjoy fun with filming, but given my wretched luck and the people trying to destroy me, I’d never risk it. I’m already ping-ponging between famous and infamous daily.,”

Coco gives me a knowing look as we cross the open area. “Smart idea, babe. Even with your crazy mate locking down all the tech in your nest, that seems like a really bad proposition. Honestly, Rufus, you’d better not be doing that shit, either. We’re all in the cross-hairs.”

Which is entirely my fault and I hate it.

“Ah, ah…” the badger wags his finger at me. “No blaming yourself, Dollykins. I refuse to acknowledge bullshit self-pity. We are all strong and independent shifters who are making our own choices despite the ridiculous pressure put on us. Right?”

I look at the polar bear, and she nods before we chorus, “Right!”

“Then I ask again… what’s on the schedule for today? I know your guys have some sneaky shit planned; the weekend is our only chance to work on clues.”

“Felix and the others went to do sneaky shit while you were at practice, Baby Girl. They should be back soon,” Fitz says as he catches up to us. “The grand poobahs will decide what’s next based on whatever they find.”

“They didn’t include you in this mission? Hmm, I wonder why…” Cori gives him a mischievous look and Fitz gasps dramatically .

“Coco-cabana, I am hurt ,” he pouts. “You’re doubting my integral role in this whole she-bang. I am protecting the most precious of cargo—the lovely and indefatigable Delores Drew and her snarky little friends.”

Rufus almost chokes on his laughter as we finally get to the front of the library. “For fuck’s sake, Khan. My hands are no cleaner than yours.”

Fitz bobs his brows as he yanks me to his side. “Ahh, but if there are two of us, that means both of these ladies have a bodyguard, hillbilly. It’s called strategy.”

“If you say so,” the badger grumbles as we head to the back doors. “I think you just get off on watching her kick people’s asses.”

“That’s a bonus, buddy, but thanks for noticing.”

Giving them both withering looks, I hold my arm up to the sensor the Captain and his crew got installed. The door whooshes open and we all file into the hallway, heading for the main area. “Hellooooo? Chessie? Aubrey? Rennie? Felix?”

No one answers, so I drop my practice bag in the spot Chess created for our on-the-go stuff. Kicking off my shoes, I nod at the others to do the same and head for the kitchen to get more water. Fitz follows me, pinching and tickling me as we go, and I giggle when my friends make exaggerated gagging sounds. Once I grab four bottles, I join them on the couches and toss the drinks to them one by one.

“Man, Coach Z worked us hard today.”

Rufus looks around, tilting his head. “She did, but she also seemed very pleased with Coco’s designs. You’re going to ace this project for sure, girl.”

Cori turns bright red and I arch a brow. She’s not remotely shy about her design talent, so that reaction is weird. “I hope so. We have a lot of scheduled collab appointments for the uniforms and team merch. It would be a good start to a diversified brand portfolio for me.”

I blink. “You want a sports line, not just high fashion? When did you decide that?”

“Zhenga said preds ignore sporty fashion and it’s an untapped market. I like paving my own path and my parents would never .”

“It’s brilliant, really,” Rufus says as he pulls his camera out again. “Gimme some of that biz talk for the film. I want to show all aspects of life here and how we’re making our opportunities when the school isn’t paying attention to the students who didn’t start out here.”

Man, he’s really on a tear about this; hopefully, it doesn’t bring more trouble to our door.

“I think the groups are good,” Felix says as we all look at the board Chess wrote on.

Alphahole

Felix, Cori, Zhenga

Crazypants

Fitz, Dolly, Raina

Grumpy

Aubrey, Percy, Bowser

Pirate

Renard, Holliday, Banjo

Cinnamon Roll

Chess, Kirby, Captai n

Chessie nods, tilting his head to look at the tiger with a pleased smile. “I think it’s as balanced as can be. I didn’t know Zhenga would be joining us, and I think maybe?—”

“Nope. If I’m joining this weird ass quest, I pick where I go, little kitty.”

Scratching my chin, I give my newest friend a suspicious look. “Coach, I trust you as much as I can at this juncture, but?—”

The lioness rolls her eyes and sighs heavily. “Look, the current leaders aren’t working out for me, obviously. You know I’m not after the royal dickhead, so stop worrying. I don’t want this place to become a smoking hole in the ground they can’t seem to rebuild, nor an unsafe cesspool like Cappie. I like having a place to live comfortably.”

That’s fair.

“Plus, any of us that share a Council-associated name should be worried about retribution if the magic people win whatever battles they’re waging,” Cori says quietly. “It won’t matter if we’re exiles or disowned—that’s like Supervillain 101. You can’t leave a Skywalker.”

“ Nice ref, Coco-cabana!” Fitz says, leaning over to fist bump her. “And very fucking true… look at our dickweed father. He’ll regret his bullshit eventually.”

“Yeah, okay Team Rocket,” Rennie says drily as he looks at the board then signs for Holliday quickly. “Regardless, I think we’re ready to explore the campus looking for the entrances to whatever hidden shit they have here.”

“There are five teams, so I think maybe we will send the Pirates to the forest in the west. Then Alphahole goes to the north mountain and lake while Cinnamon heads for the east forest. Grumpy can take the southeast area with the lake leaving our team to scout the southwest by the arena,” I say as I visualize the map in my head .

“That seems like a good plan, snack size,” Aubrey says as he rises to his feet. “Let’s get moving. I don’t know what the hell we’re going to find, but everyone needs to make certain they have both their phones and their earwigs in. We don’t know where any of us will be, after all.”

“Hopefully not dodging random enemies,” Rennie says as he gives the dragon a pointed look.

I wrinkle my nose. “Yes, that’s definitely on my ‘no-no’ list, babe. But if anyone gets in trouble, raise the alarm sooner rather than later. I don’t want anyone to get hurt; I’d never forgive myself.”

“Baby Girl, we’re all going to be safe; stop worrying.” Fitz stands and holds his hand out to me, pulling me to my feet. “Especially us because I’m in the mood to beat some ass to get the energy out.”

Oh, fabulous. Good thing I’m with him.

“Dolly, you didn’t have to let me do this,” Raina says as she holds onto my back.

I chuckle, looking over my shoulder at the raccoon. “It’s no big deal. You weigh almost nothing and until we find the right place to poke around, you’d have trouble keeping up.”

Fitz pouts. “I’m still mad you didn’t let me carry you both, Baby Girl.”

“She has a point about that being a disadvantage if we run into trouble, Mr. Fitz.” Raina’s voice is thready, and I know she had to buck up the courage to say that to a big predator that isn’t me.

“I know, little sunshine, but it doesn’t mean I’m not mad her thighs aren’t wrapped around mine right now.”

The relief I feel seep from her small body as she holds onto me is palpable, and I have to stifle the urge to giggle. The two of them are going to be a very interesting group to explore with. “Fitzy, my thighs are wrapped around you damn near once a day. You’ll get your chance when we’re not looking for trouble.”

“Some men have difficulty focusing when they aren't properly sated,” Raina chirps. “Prey animals are all taught that by their mothers, Dolly.” She pauses and I know she’s thinking about my bitchy mother. “However, you did not have this education, it seems. Perhaps Miss Zhenga needs to give you another class?”

My face turns bright red and Fitz howls with laughter as we finally get to the arena. “Raina, I’m doing my best, but five of these dudes is hard, even for a rabbit. They’re all horn dogs in spirit, if not in species.”

The tittering giggle joins my tiger’s laughter and he points to the covered walkway behind the columns on the outside of the competition stadium. “I think we should look for hidey-holes there first. It’s big, old, and no one’s done any upgrades in forever. Z complains all the time, but maybe there’s a reason beyond disdain for sports.”

I grin at him. “Solid logic, baby.”

“Raccoons can get into openings of four or five inches, you know. If we find something small, I can likely get inside without much effort.

I did not know that, but it makes my team division feel even smarter.

“Awesome sauce,” Fitz says, his eyes bright with excitement. “And I can smash things. So where do we start poking, Baby Girl?”

Raina hops down from my back as I eye the stadium. He’s right about the walkway, but if we want to save time, starting at the best place on it will help. “I think… maybe the side facing the forest area? Rennie has been all pissy about something being out there—which is why I sent his team there—but if that’s where weird shit is, then it tracks to start nearby, right? ”

“I agree, Dolly. Preds think they are very clever when they hide things, but the prey staff always knows. At every school so far, we learn where the bodies are buried within a month or so.”

I grimace, looking at her. “Unfortunately that metaphor is a bit on the nose, huh?”

Fitz snorts, gesturing for us to follow him around the stadium. “Don’t even joke about that. I’m going to be pissed if we find a damn corpse now.”

Raina frowns. “I believe Mr. Chess packed supplies for that in the bag, though.”

“He probably did, knowing him,” I say as I pat the messenger bag slung across my chest. “Chessie is becoming a regular Pred Scout. He runs our place better than a Higgins ever could.”

Stopping in place, Fitz looks at me hungrily. “Holy fuck, Baby Girl, you just made a Magnum P.I. reference! My dick is going to burst out of my pants.”

I wink at him. “Title of your sex tape.”

His groan echoes off the stone walls as Raina and I walk away, heading towards the nooks and crannies to look for clues.

Operation Sexy Detective Bunny… locked and loaded.