Free Sexual Games [The Heroes of Silver Springs 8] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Tonya Ramagos Page B

an armature with the intent of auctioning her and a dozen other young women and girls to the highest terrorist bidder and transporting them overseas. “Nothing suspicious has turned up to substantiate our belief that there is another local ring kicking into action.”
    “You just said the key word, Stone. Known . Known ring. Known missing-person cases.” Cooper picked up the photo of Lexie Stratus and replaced it in the file. “We didn’t know she was missing until last night. Who knows how many other girls are out there we don’t yet know about.”
    “I would say it’s time we find out.” Adrenaline and determination pumped through Mallory’s veins. It had been too long since she’d gotten the chance to sink her teeth into a good assignment. She wouldn’t rest until they found Lexie Stratus and knew everything down to the millisecond of what happened to her in the last month.
    “Lexie is not the only Stardust employee to quit suddenly.”
    Well, now. That was news to Mallory. She stiffened and sat up straighter.
    “Kell is checking out the others now,” Cooper continued. “There have been four in the last six months.”
    “Why didn’t we know about this? Waterston PD has had a team frequenting that place for over a year.”
    “Quitting a job isn’t against the law, nor is it uncommon in a club like Stardust.”
    “But if those four have vanished without a trace as well…”
    “Then we have more than a missing Lexie Stratus on our hands and possible substantiation of a trafficking ring,” Cooper finished. His gaze flicked to the uniform she’d hung on his closet door when she’d first entered his office. He lifted both brows. “Those are some clothes. Looks like there’s barely enough material to fit on the hanger.”
    Mallory bit back a smile. “I’ve worn less on the job.”
    “You’re in, then.”
    He made it more statement than question, but she answered anyway. “I start tonight at seven.”
    “Cocktail waitress?”
    The underlining hope in Cooper’s tone almost made her let the smile come. “The woman who interviewed me, Betty—who coincidentally reminded me a lot of Betty Boop—offered me a stripper position, but I declined. She left the offer on the table, stressing how much more money I would make, and told me if I changed my mind to let her know.”
    She chewed her bottom lip and waited a beat. “It might be necessary. If we are uncovering a trafficking ring, the ringleader might be focusing on strippers in the club. If that’s the case, I won’t get far as a cocktail waitress.”
    Cooper nodded once. “Let’s hope it doesn’t become necessary.”
    Yes, yes, please, let’s hope. Mallory would do anything for the job, anything to catch bastards who were taking women as hostage, turning them into sex slaves, and auctioning them off to the highest bidder. If it meant taking off her clothes in front of a bar of drooling, disgusting, lowlifes, she’d do it, but she really, really hoped she wouldn’t have to.
    “I’m sending Tarantino in with you. He’ll be playing the role of a customer. I don’t want you going in there alone. You okay with that?”
    “Absolutely,” Mallory answered quickly. She’d worked assignments with Nick Tarantino before. He was a good agent and a valuable stand-in on their team. Tall, impressively built, and blond with olive-hazel eyes and a naturally dark complexion, he ranked quite high on the bureau stud-o-meter. He was also a keen observer. Practically nothing got past the man.
    Cooper opened his mouth to go on, shut it again, and frowned when a knock at his office door cut him off. “Enter,” he bellowed curtly.
    Mallory shot a glance over her shoulder as the door opened and Jackson walked into the office. Powerful thighs encased in dark slacks carried him closer to the desk, closer to her. Sweaty nights and tangled sheets sprang to her thoughts as her gaze slid up his hard, muscular body. He was raw power and masculinity in one