Free Too Far Gone by Debra Webb, Regan Black

FBI?”
    “Before we go to any branch of law enforcement,” he explained, “we need evidence to back up our accusations. Once we break cover and take that step, there’s no going back, Lauren. We have to do this right. It’s the only way I can protect you.”
    Her gaze drifted back to the laptop. “These people are that bad, huh?”
    He’d always believed delivering bad news was like ripping off a bandage. Do it fast and quick. No point changing that strategy now. “Kozlov worked his way up through the syndicate, earning his current post here. He has his fingers in prostitution, the drug trade, and is suspected of money laundering, car theft, and worse. Nothing sticks.”
    “He’s the boss now?”
    “According to the information Claudia dug up, he seems to be. Locally anyway. No one’s made a play on his territories in over a year. He has informants everywhere. I’m sure he has more than one cop on his payroll and if you went in, he’d have you killed before you could do much more than state your name.”
    She closed her eyes for a moment. “You’re saying there’s nothing we can do?” When she opened her eyes once more, they glistened and he thought she might start crying, but no tears fell.
    “We’ll see. No promises. Let’s talk about that night again. What exactly did Kozlov say to you?”
    “He said he knew how to take care of a beautiful woman. That he’d put the world at my feet and that he was more powerful than... Desmond.” She frowned. “What are you thinking?”
    This was the part he dreaded telling her the most. Mike had a bad feeling about the product Trinity had been providing. “Peter Kozlov has associates known to deal in human trafficking as well as prostitution.”
    “What?” She lurched to her feet and began to pace. “Desmond wouldn’t be a part of anything like that.” She held her hands up in question. “What use did he have for prostitutes when an endless parade of young women eager to audition by casting couch marched right up to him?”
    “But aren’t escorts a fairly common thing in your circles?” He’d tried to frame it nicely, but he could tell by the flicker of fire in her eyes he’d failed.
    “Not my circles,” she stated. “I’m aware it happens, but paying for sex just wasn’t Desmond’s style. As I said, plenty of women threw themselves at him free of charge.”
    Back to the direct method
. “Lauren, based on what you saw, Kozlov knew Trinity. He knew you. That says he’s familiar with Trinity on a personal level as well as a professional one. A man with Kozlov’s reputation wouldn’t take an interest if there wasn’t something on the line.”
    She stopped, rubbing her temples. “I don’t understand why Desmond would take such a risk with his reputation. He makes—made—a fortune as a talent agent. Why would he need to do something like this?”
    “For some, there’s never enough. Any ideas how Trinity met Kozlov?”
    “No.” She shook her head, worry etched across her brow. “We basically led separate lives under the same roof for the past two years.” She started pacing again. “It has to be drugs. Desmond didn’t use, but he would arrange things for some clients.” She made a sound of frustration. “I guess it’s possible he went to that extreme.”
    Mike stifled a sigh and went back for the laptop. “Let’s follow that thread.” He pulled up a file of perps tied to the Russian drug trade, with a few of the prostitutes thrown in. “Recognize anyone?”
    She didn’t. He opened another file. Knowing what was coming, he fought to soften the blow. “How about any of these faces?”
    Dutifully, she looked at the screen and then frowned. “These aren’t mug shots.”
    “Just click the box if the person in the photo seems familiar.”
    She clicked three, scrolled some more and clicked another. “Four so far. Who are they?”
    “All of those women are listed as missing.”
    “Since when?”
    “Six months ago to three years