Cam contemplated the myriad ways he could get away with murdering Marcus Kaine.

The Hudson was a good dumping ground, or so he'd heard. Hadn't ever tested the theory, but there was a first time for almost everything.

The way he'd spoken to Yara, Cam had wanted to punch through the walls to get to him.

"Cam," Pierce muttered beside him. "You good?"

He gave him a curt nod.

By the time Yara emerged from the elevator, understandably freaked out, Camden was ready to un-holster his Glock 22 and take it for a spin.

He'd never seen her look so shaken and his instinct was to go to her. But he stayed in his spot until she came to them.

"You alright, lass?" Pierce slipped off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. It wasn't cold as they emerged from the building, but she was shivering nonetheless.

"I'm fine," she replied, convincing no one.

Rory opened the door and helped her climb into the back.

"I'll drive." Cam needed something to occupy his hands other than his gun.

"Here's the address."

Yara handed Pierce her phone, and he plugged the address into the GPS. Upper West Side, of course.

"You did real well, lass," Cam heard Rory assure her.

"No, I didn't. I didn't get anything out of him."

"You got some, and we'll get the rest when he comes to meet you." Pierce was already typing away on his laptop, transcribing the conversation she'd just had with Kaine.

Fucking Kaine.

A hand landed on his left shoulder and squeezed.

Cam met Yara's eyes in the rear view mirror.

I'm okay, she seemed to tell him.

He nodded, swerving around traffic.

"Slow down, we don't want NYPD on our collective arses."

Cam begrudgingly obliged.

"New plan," Rory said. "He clearly has...expectations from Yara tonight."

Cam saw Rory put his arm around her shoulders.

She leaned into the embrace, and he pushed aside his irrational jealousy to focus on the gratitude he felt for his cousin. Doing what he himself could not. Should not.

"I feel like I blew it," Yara sighed.

"You didn't." Cam caught her gaze in the mirror again. "You didn't. Kaine is a slippery motherfucker. He must have suspected something."

"What makes you think this isn't a set-up?" Pierce glanced over at Cam.

"It probably is, but he won't be expecting us." Cam and Pierce came to a silent agreement. Nothing was going to happen to Yara, not on their watch.

"So we go in with her?" Rory leaned forward.

"Yara, you'll go in the front door alone. We'll find another way in."

She shook her head. "There's a service entrance in the back of the building. I can double back and open it for you without the doorman knowing."

"Perfect." He tried to smile for her.

"That will work. You get to the apartment, we'll handle Kaine. We won't let him touch you, I promise." Pierce turned in his seat to face her. "You have my word."

Cam saw Yara nod, saw the relief on her face. What had she really been living with all these years? How strong had she been?

"One thing," she said. "We can't leave Lanie and the others behind."

"Trust me," Pierce replied. "By the time we're through with him, he won't be able to control his bladder, much less your careers."

* * *

The new plan was simple. Let Marcus believe he had the upper hand until they could spring the trap. Much to his brother's chagrin, Camden called in a favor from their Manhattan counterpart, Mimic Inc.

"Tessa," Cam greeted the petite brunette with a customary bow, and then a kiss on the cheek.

Tessa Takenawa was small but mighty, and the most respectable foe he'd ever faced. Cam placed her firmly in the frenemy camp, though lately, they'd found themselves on the same side more often than not. He liked her. More importantly, he liked her for Skin. She had a way of approaching things form angles he hadn’t even considered.

Something to ponder at a much later date.

"Camden, Rory." She shook their respective hands before turning to Pierce. Who glared at her. "Mr. Skinner."

"Ms. Takenawa."

No love lost there.

A smirk played on her ruby red lips. Dark, almond-shaped eyes assessed Cam's brother, and he wondered about the real reason behind their chilly rapport. Maybe some extracurriculars gone awry?

Tessa addressed the three of them. "Where's your missing pop star?"

"Here." Yara stepped out of the bedroom in a black, silk robe that fell to her thighs. Her hair was down, something that tightened Cam's throat when he tried to swallow. She was so beautiful he ached, and yet he wanted to put his fist through the wall when he thought of why she'd gotten dolled up.

Fucking Kaine.

Tessa's eyes widened. "Christ, it really is you."

"Did you doubt me?" Cam asked.

She shook her head, her gaze locked on Yara. "I...no. No, of course not. I just..." She trailed off.

Yara smiled. "Nice to meet you. And thanks for coming out so late for all this cloak-and-dagger shit."

Tessa took Yara's arm and led her to the sofa. "My dear, I live for his cloak-and-dagger shit."

She smiled, and Yara seemed to exhale some of her nervous energy.

"We're going to make history here tonight. You're going to get out of this just fine, and we'll make sure the others do too."

She patted Yara's hands and stood. "Where can I set it up?"

"Bookcase." Cam pointed in that direction. "We only have about ten minutes before Kaine gets here."

"I only need two." Tessa walked over to the bookcase and reached into her leather messenger bag. She pulled out a small, black box and set it on the shelf, masking it behind a picture frame.

Turning back to Yara, Tessa smiled again. "I need you to keep him in this room, can you do that?"

Yara nodded. "I'm sure I can manage. He's only interested in one thing tonight."

Cam grit his teeth. It must have been audible because Yara looked over at him. She blinked slowly, and he tried to pour as much support as he could into his eyes. She looked away.

She seemed so small.

"I think you two should take a minute," Pierce muttered behind him.

"We don't have a minute."

"We have just that," Pierce countered. "Yara?"

She rose and walked over to them, the soft fabric molding to her curves like spilled ink.

When she reached them, Pierce stepped away.

Cam scratched the back of his neck. "Try not to be nervous, we'll be just on the other side of that door."

She nodded. "I know. I'm fine I just...I don't want to screw up again. I could kick myself for getting skittish back at his office." Her gaze met his and what he saw there caught him off-guard.

Fear. Disappointment in herself.

He couldn't have that.

"Hey," Cam hesitated before taking her hand and leading her away from the others.

The apartment's parquet floors had seen better days. In fact, the entire place seemed just this side of rundown, despite its prestigious address. Cam led her into the foyer where Yara leaned against the wall.

"Say the word, and I'll scrap all this." He touched his finger under her chin, lifting gently. Those amazing, gemstone eyes of her threatened to knock him flat before she blinked, smiling softly.

"And what would I do then?"

"We'd figure something else out." He brushed a stray lock of hair out of her eyes. Her hair had always been a source of fascination for him, so thick and long. The color of sable. "Fuck," he breathed.

Yara searched his eyes. "What?"

He squeezed them shut. "Nothing."

Cam backed up a few inches. "Everything will be alright, lass. You have my word, Pierce's word. Rory's too, I suspect. Tessa's good at what she does."

"And what does she do?"

"She catches flies."

* * *

After all of the anticipation and build up, tripping Kaine up in his own ego hadn't taken more than five minutes.

He'd arrived minutes after the team had gotten in place, storming into the apartment and bellowing for "his girl."

"Time for you to pay the piper," he'd said, like a villain from a bad, seventies film. Behind the closed bedroom door, the three Skinner boys rolled their eyes and shook their heads.

Yara's voice had been too soft for Cam to hear, only Kaine's boisterous, over-excited responses made it through the thick door.

It wasn't until he started yelling, and a second female voice joined the the ruckus, that Rory opened the door and the boys made their presence known.

Kaine was understandably surprised.

Belt undone and foaming at the mouth about having them all arrested, he shut up right fucking quick when Tessa pulled out the recording device.

"Get on your knees, baby, it's time for some payback."

That's all Cam had heard before his fist flew. The crunch was satisfying, but he'd wanted more.

"Not helping, brother." Pierce held his arm fast.

"It's bloody well helping me," Cam retorted, shaking his aching digits. He smiled at the sight of the blood trickling from Kaine's nose.

"I'll fucking ruin you, all of you!”

"Tsk Tsk," Tessa said, waving the black box. "Between the papers from your former client, Ariel Wyatt, Ms. Bujold's testimony, and what we have on tape, you really don't have any room left to be making threats, Mr. Kaine."

"None of that will stand up in any court."

Tessa smiled. It was the cold, icy smile of an apex predator.

Cam thought he saw a shiver pass over Kaine's frame.

"I have the Times on speed-dial, Mr. Kaine. There's no court like the court of public opinion. Surely, you already know that."

Kaine opened his mouth to speak, but Cam had heard enough.

"You're done," he pronounced. "Whatever operation you've had going on these past three decades, the girls the drugs, the parties, the theft of their intellectual property, it's done."

"You don't have enough to take me down."

"Mr. Kaine, are you familiar with child labor laws?”

He spun on her. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Tessa met him toe-to-toe. Formidable woman. Even Pierce seemed impressed, though Cam didn't think he'd ever admit it.

"Lanie. I believe she's your next breakout star? She's sixteen years old."

"Oh my God," Yara gasped, her hand to her mouth.

"I...what? No, she's nineteen." Kaine took a step back.

"She lied," Tessa continued as she produced what looked like a birth certificate from her bag. “Lanie Lynnette Labelle, catchy name, isn't it? Born sixteen years, three months, and five days ago. You two seem awfully cozy in the photos that Skin provided.“

"I never touched her."

Cam's fist curled again. "I saw you. You were all over her."

Kaine blanched.

"You're going down for that, and for countless other things. Whatever we can prove, I'll hand over to the D.A." Tessa walked to the front door, opening it. In strolled two members of the NYPD's finest.

Kaine was cuffed and out the door before Cam could process it.

"What just happened?" Yara turned to him.

"It's over." He said, exhaling. Suddenly tired, every little ache and pain made itself known as the adrenaline wore off.

"Okay." She seemed dubious. Understandably.

"Really, it's done." He frowned, looking at Tessa. "He's finished, thanks to her."

"Way to bury the lead, Tessa," Rory said.

"We were already dark when I got the text with the info on young Lanie. My office is already reaching out to her parents. She's in a studio across town as we speak." She smiled. "We'll take care of her."

Yara exhaled. "Thank you."

"And I'll take care of you," Cam said to her.

"I believe you."

Cam's eyes narrowed. "Yeah?"

Yara's smile was weary but warmed him from the inside.

"Yeah."