She woke up a little when she was moved off Zachary’s bed. She watched him get checked, and then she fell back asleep, thankful that he wasn’t giving everyone too hard of a time. If there was ever a moment they would all accept cranky, grumpy Zachary, this was it. Yet, he stayed well-behaved, and she smiled at Brenton, stretching slowly.

“You should also sleep more,” Brenton whispered to her.

“No,” Riley groaned, rubbing her forehead. “No, I need to be up as much as possible. That was a good nap, though.”

“Okay,” Brenton sighed, taking a seat at the table on Gabe’s left. Troy was on Gabe’s right and they continued to work, puzzling out who was coming after them.

She sat up slowly as Gabe slammed his laptop shut. She narrowed her eyes on him and noticed he was pale, his eyes wide with fear. And rage. Something swirled into emerald green eyes that made her worry.

“Gabe,” Troy bitched, smacking Gabe’s chest. “What the hell?”

“I saw that, Gabe,” Brenton snarled. “Open the laptop.”

Riley frowned and walked closer.

“Brenton…” Gabe swallowed the lump in his throat. “Fuck.”

“Open. The. Laptop,” Brenton growled. Riley could barely understand the words that came out of his mouth.

Gabe slowly opened the laptop back up and pushed it toward Brenton. Brenton pulled out his phone, dialed a number and waited. Riley, as she made her way around the table to see the screen, saw Troy pale and heard him curse wildly.

“No fucking way. Not again. Not this. Not…” Troy pushed out of his chair and began to pace.

“Anything we need to know?” Thomas asked with a yawn. Riley didn’t like the anger and frustration she should smell coming from her guys.

“I’m going to destroy her,” Brenton hissed, his jaw set. Thomas sat up straight. James coughed. Sheriff looked startled.

“Tell me what’s going on?” Riley said carefully.

“Lana Cartona is what’s going on,” Gabe whispered. “Or rather, Lana Kingson, if she uses her maiden name.”

Riley stumbled to a stop, looking around the room for someone to tell her who this other Kingson was. It was Troy who noticed her confusion and sighed.

“Abel’s mother,” he said with a bite. “The bitch who tried to have Jameson poison us all as kids. The bitch who hired women to fuck us and kill us in our own beds.”

“Brenton, this is the first time we’ve caught her in the act,” Gabe growled. “It’s fucking time to teach her how we play the game.”

“He said his parents were on his side to try and get him in charge of Kingson, Inc.” Brenton snarled. “He fucking said it.”

“But we thought he wasn’t connected to the hunters,” Riley groaned. “He wasn’t connected to the hunters, damn it! He had no idea who sold us out. He found out about them through a contact in the state force.”

“Fuck,” Troy groaned. “She’s right.”

“His mother was trying to set him up with an easy victory,” Gabe scoffed. “Sounds like Lana.”

“He was murdered in his cell a few days ago…” Thomas whispered from his spot.

“That is why the game escalated without warning,” Brenton growled. “Her fucking precious boy was dead and she…”

“She’s out for blood,” Thomas finished for him.

“I am going to call the lawyers and get everything-” Brenton started, looking mean and ready.

“Then let’s give it to her,” Riley whispered. Her cheetah hissed and spit. Violence should never be the answer. “Let’s stop playing her games. Let’s stop playing all the games.”

“What do you mean, Pretty Girl?” Troy asked carefully.

She met Brenton’s eyes, those gold, hard stones. He knew what she meant. He might not want to hear what Riley was about to say, but she was going to anyways.

“She might be your aunt, Brenton… but I hate this. I’m tired of hearing about the political games and the underhanded dealings of this… community. Abel… Cameron and Jonathan. Andrew and Zachary were both supposed to die because of this bitch. All of you were supposed to die years ago.” Riley took a deep breath. “I’m not letting you all keep playing games. I am tired.”

“So am I,” Brenton whispered.

“So… let’s stop playing the games,” Riley said, straightening her spine. “And let’s start fighting like the animals that we are. If she wants blood, let’s fucking give it to her.”

“Now, Kitten,” Sheriff stuttered.

“No, Sheriff,” Riley snarled, feeling the rage build up inside her. “This needs to be over. Every shifter on the planet is watching? Then let’s show them what the Kingson Pride does when we’re done playing by their fucking rules. Let’s stop playing the cards we’re dealt,” Riley snapped, taking the card deck off the table and throwing it across the room. “And let’s start teaching the other players what it fucking means to fight for their damn lives.”

She was furious. The Pride should have killed this bitch years ago. This horrible woman who went after children. This awful woman who was willing to let them be killed and skinned.

Riley would never embrace the fucked-up politics of the feline world.

But she would embrace the cat inside of her. Always. She embraced the vengeful, cunning rage and fire to get back at Abel. She embraced the hunt. Her cheetah hissed and snarled, pacing somewhere deep in Riley’s soul.

“I have an idea,” Brenton growled with a smile. “Gabe, find out who tried to kill Zachary and me. The actual shooters.”

“Are you sure?” Gabe asked, looking back at his laptop.

“Yes,” Brenton growled softly. He stood and walked over to her. Riley growled softly as her lion ran a hand through her hair and pulled her in for a kiss.

“You are the second person today to remind me that we are all just animals,” he growled into her mouth.

“And these games are so very human,” she whispered.

“They are, aren’t they? We felines have become so enamored with our wealth, power, and intelligence that we have all forgotten what it means to be wild. Truly wild. Truly free.”

The conversation felt like they were discussing something dangerous. Riley felt a thrill in her bones. The politics had dragged the Pride down… it was time to throw the politics away.

“I did it,” Riley smiled, feeling dangerous. “I showed the world what it cost someone to fuck with me and fuck with all of you.”

“I should have taken that to heart sooner,” Brenton growled. “But we’re going a bit harder this time.”

“What’s the plan?” She asked, holding on to him.

“We’re going to kill them.” Brenton growled softly. “I would have with Abel. I should have with Cameron. That was the start of this. I should have put that man in his grave for taking something that belonged with the Pride. It was sign of weakness.”

“Then let’s show them we aren’t weak,” Riley purred, pulling him down for another kiss.

She felt blood-thirsty. She felt violent. Brenton apparently did as well, because he bit her lip as he pulled back from the kiss. His growl and the fire in his eyes thrilled her.

She looked over to the brothers, who were both grinning. Troy winked at her, and she winked back, making him chuckle.

“Are you okay with this?” Brenton asked her softly. “I’m going to do some things that you may not like.”

“Will it help us be safe? Will it end this? Will it scare people off from fucking with us anymore?” She asked, looking back up at him.

“Yes,” Brenton growled.

“Then, yes. I’m fucking stoked,” she hissed. “Let’s do this.”

“I’m actually terrified,” Thomas whispered.

“Me too,” Sheriff grunted. “I need to leave. I can’t be party to this anymore…”

“I know,” Brenton said mildly towards the bear. “Go, before we say anymore that would put you at odds with your job. We’ve put you through enough, old bear.”

“Thank you,” Sheriff sighed. “Kitten, you be careful.”

“Always,” she chuckled, hugging Sheriff tightly. “You have a safe drive home. Tell Patty hello and we’re okay, for me?”

“Of course,” Sheriff chuckled. She watched him grab his jacket and leave after that. Thomas and James waited patiently to see if the Pride was going to call on them for more.

“You will stay here and protect these two,” Brenton said softly, gently without his normal commanding undertone. “Please?”

“Of course,” Thomas said politely with a nod. “I wouldn’t leave them undefended for anything.”

“We appreciate that,” Riley told him, walking to hug Thomas close.

“I was wondering when the fierce cheetah I met was going to come back,” Thomas chuckled. “We wolves, we never played like the felines. You’re in my territory, going out like this. You’ll need to strike hard and fast. No mercy, no survivors. If you want to show everyone you’re done playing games, you need to mean it.”

“There’s a chance it just won’t work, too,” James sighed. “But I think you’ll do fine. Just make sure you all survive the night.”

* * *

It took Gabe an hour to track down the assassins once he had Lana’s name. Riley was proud of him. After everything their little Pride had gone through, Gabe was coming out the other side stronger than ever, now able to admit his failures while also continuing to work hard. Troy was a constant support, and she knew, when this was over, she might not ever need to worry about how they were doing with their issues. So damn strong, those two, even if they hadn’t realized it for a long time.

“I love you,” she whispered in his ear as he wrote the names down.

“They are still in Denver, since they can’t get the second half of their payment until the job is complete,” Gabe growled, looking over his shoulder at her. He kissed her slowly. “I love you, too, by the way.”

“I know,” she chuckled. She stole a glance at Thomas and Brenton looking over floor plans of Lana’s winter home. Lana was hiding all the way out in New York. Brenton and Riley were going to get on a plane, fly out and make a quick visit to her and her husband, Abel’s father.

Tomorrow, the Cartona Pride would no longer exist. The entire family would be wiped out, just like the Slaters.

Riley couldn’t fucking wait.

“I got the jet waiting on standby for you two,” Troy called out from the other side of the room. “You’ll have about an hour drive when you land.”

“Do we tell anyone that we’re doing this?” Riley asked.

“No,” Gabe told her quickly. “We strike, and we walk away. The SSTF won’t come after us for it, they’ve made it abundantly clear they don’t care who wins or loses this. They don’t want to arrest her for nearly exposing us… hell, they might be happy we are taking her out of play.”

“I can’t believe you guys never went after her before,” Riley sighed.

“My decision,” Brenton said mildly, looking up at her. “I never wanted to go after her because I never wanted to be the last Kingson. I never wanted to do it.”

“Well…” Troy chuckled, and Riley wondered what the joke was. “Since it’s all your family that’s ever really caused us problems… maybe if you have no family, we might actually have some peace.”

“Yeah,” Gabe snorted. “A bunch of shit-disturbers, your family.”

“It is the Alphas,” Brenton groaned. “If your families had as many Alphas as mine, they would have been pains as well.”

“Are you okay knowing that you’re about to have… no family left?” Riley asked him softly.

“I have family,” Brenton answered her. “I might be the last Kingson tomorrow, but I will still have family.”

“Amen,” Troy chuckled. “Fucking amen, my brother.”

It made Riley’s heart swell. Family. That’s how all of this had started. They had offered her a real family again.

“It’s not just your family,” Riley chuckled, walking towards Brenton. “Mine has been a pain too.”

“We are not hunting down your mother,” Brenton said quickly, pointing at her. “She is absolutely not our problem.”

“You’re right. I’m going to let my dad run around the world and try to figure that one out. She hasn’t been causing any real problems since that thing with Cameron, either,” Riley told him, holding back a grin as she leaned into him.

“I love that you all can grin and joke a bit while planning the deaths of at least four people,” Thomas laughed, shaking his head. “Reminds me of when I was a Marine, and we were sent out on a mission.”

“I would say I value human life and shouldn’t laugh while planning this… but I don’t really value the life of a woman who has tried to kill my guys for over two decades. I don’t value the lives of hunters who refuse to value my life. I’ll do whatever it takes and sleep easy, if it means my guys and I finally get to have a safe life. A peaceful one.” Riley snarled towards the end, that anger and ferocity coming back to the surface for a moment.

“Good, because this is survival of the fittest and it’s time for you to reclaim your spot at the top of the food chain.” Thomas looked to Brenton after that. “I hope, that if you all ever have children, no one ever picks on them or hurts them.”

“Oh?” Brenton frowned at him and Riley tilted her head to the side.

“Riley would remove heads from shoulders over it. I’m a little worried you might smother any future children as it is,” Thomas laughed, throwing his head back.

“That is a very good point,” Brenton chuckled, grinning. Then he slid his gaze to Riley. “Children, huh? You think so, Thomas?”

“No,” Riley growled softly. “No. You give me at least five years of no one trying to kill us, or any of our friends, and I’ll consider it. Also, won’t I be in my prime for like… forty years or more?”

“Yeah,” Troy laughed. “Plenty of time, Brenton. Let’s not rush it. Shit, man.”

“I am not rushing anything!” Brenton laughed. “Thomas brought it up. Let’s get back on topic, please. Gabe, you were saying the assassins are still in town. Tell me more.”

“I should have looked harder into the Kudo Pride. They were used as a go-between for hiring them. Those shits finally chose a side, or maybe they have always done this and never gotten caught. Troy and I can handle the assassins. Hopefully. They are a couple of Asian Golden cats. We should be able to over-power them if we take them by surprise. They got paid ten million up-front, with another ten million when they’re done.” Gabe was reading from notes he’d taken.

“What was their exact assignment?” Riley asked, watching as Gabe sighed.

“Brenton. And Zachary, if possible. Andrew was Jonathan’s problem. The rest of us? Who knows. Lana may have thought we would just go into hiding. Take cover, lick our wounds.”

“Or let you all get comfortable and slowly destroy you,” Brenton growled. “Lana is a master politician, another reason I never wanted us to fight with her. She used to follow the rules to a tee.”

“But for as long as she’s alive, she’ll be looking for a weakness,” Thomas finished. “Is she an Alpha?”

“Yes,” Brenton sighed. “My father married her off to Cartona to keep her antics out of his way. She was more dominant than him. Hell, she is more dominant than her husband. I would bet my fortune that she technically runs that Pride.”

“Why does she want us, then?” Riley asked. “Why does she want you dead?”

“My guess?” Brenton frowned. “It is not money, that is for certain. Abel may have been vindictive over it, but he was always too weak to even get his father to declare him as his heir. He was a jealous prick. Lana, though, has never cared about the money.”

“She wants the power,” Riley whispered, remembering what the brothers and Andrew said about the Kingson name. “She wants to be the Kingson Alpha…”

“She wants to rule,” Brenton whispered back. “She wants to be the Queen. And she can do it. She is smart enough to make it happen. She must have seen us go easy on Cameron-”

“I don’t care.” Riley shrugged, cutting off Brenton’s explanation of his aunt’s motives. “I don’t care about the reputation of the Kingson name or any of the other stuff. What I do care about is keeping everyone here safe and alive. I don’t give a damn about her motivations or what’s at stake for her. All I need to know is what’s at stake for us, which is our family. My family. Your family.” She put a hand on his chest, and he nodded at her.

“Then let’s get this done.” Brenton’s face was stone, but his eyes weren’t. They showed Riley so much. His anger, his pain, his love, not only for her, but also for the entire Pride.

“You two be safe,” Troy told them. “Stay safe.”

“You too,” Riley said.

“Come home to us,” Gabe whispered, coming to hug her, then Brenton after he stood up. “Troy and I will head out after nightfall.”

“Good,” Brenton said, holding Gabe’s shoulders. “I’ll call you when we land. And when it’s done.”

“Good.” Gabe smiled.