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“YOU tell the senator if he keeps pushing this legislation, he’ll have the entire weight of the ACSL working against him.”

Darci Sanders ran a hand through her red curls, wincing as her finger caught on one knot and then another. Her hair hadn’t started the day so wild, but it never failed to end up that way. It had taken her half an hour to talk to someone other than an intern. She sat behind a worn desk that had seen better days and fiddled with the tiny snow globe from Paris. It was one of several travel mementos that adorned her space. The office was cramped, but it belonged to her.

She decided not to mention that the full weight of the American Coalition for Sexual Liberty was only seven employees. The thing about power and influence—it’s kind of like dynamite—it can come in small packages, especially in a city like D.C. Her eyes wandered across the array of pictures on the walls and desk, causing her to smile as the woman on the phone spoke.

“I’ll pass your message along, Miss Sanders. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

Darci rolled her eyes at the woman’s professional but impatient tone. She pushed away from her desk, stood and stretched. Rounding the modest desk with the cordless phone still pressed to her ear, she walked to the window. It was large and bathed the room in natural light, making the blue walls seem even brighter.

“What did you say your name was?”

“Adara Kent, ma’am.” Darci shuddered as she scribbled the name on a sticky note.Don’t call me ma’am.

Out loud, she said, “That’s a lovely name. You can get me an appointment for a sit down with the senator.”

“I’m afraid he is a busy man and won’t be able to meet anytime soon,” Adara replied.

“Of course he is. I hope you’re prepared to spend a lot of time on the phone, Miss Kent. I will make sure the senator’s constituents call you every day to express their displeasure with this bill.”

Darci spent another thirty seconds getting the spiel she’d heard half a dozen times from other offices. “I’ll pass your message to the senator.” She knew full well Adara Kent had no intention of doing anything of the sort. At most, her call would reach the chief of staff if she was persistent—and she would be. She pulled up her list of co-sponsors of S.571 and crossed off Sean Atleigh, the Republican from Arizona. Three more lawmakers to harass today. She tried to keep the smirk off her face. Jim hated it when she harassed members of the legislative branch.

Darci walked to the window again. It looked out onto a busy D.C. street. She loved the city. The hustle and bustle relaxed her, and in this job, relaxing was a rarity. She had been working for the American Coalition for Sexual Liberty for several years. It was a rewarding job, but she worked with a lot of victims, many seen as society’s outcasts. Porn stars, prostitutes, rape victims and more came through this office seeking representation and aid. Today, she was starting a lobby against a bill that classified pornography as a public health crisis on a federal level and directed funding and legislation towards restrictions that would hobble the industry. Sexual liberty meant being able to make money off it in Darci’s eyes, and the ability to do so without government intervention. Certain laws regarding child porn were necessary but to kill an entire commercial enterprise because some religious white guys were feigning offense? That seemed like a gross overreach of power.

Her cellphone buzzed, and she picked it up from the desk. It was a text from Gage Allard.

Missing you at Exposure, sweetie. Please say you’ll come back this weekend. You know you miss us.

She winced. It had been several months since she’d been to the club. At first, she’d feigned being busy at work. But she’d stopped even bothering to lie about why she wasn’t there. After her one night with the mysterious Bradley, she’d gone back expecting to see him or hear from him since they’d swapped numbers. But after over a month, she was heartbroken and couldn’t take being there. Bradley had been perfect and attentive and everything she could ask from in a Dom and lover. He’d even called the next day to make sure she was OK after their scene. And then he’d just vanished. Gage was right, though. She missed Exposure and her friends. It was time to think about going back.

The office phone rang, startling her. It was shaping up to be a busy one. She put her cellphone aside and answered with her usual greeting. A timid voice reached across the line.

“Miss Sanders, I’m Tessa Heath. I wondered if we could meet.”

“Can I ask why you’re calling? I can try to help you on the phone.” Darci opened her desktop calendar as she spoke.

“I would be more comfortable talking in person,” Tessa said.

“Will you at least tell me what it’s about?” Darci asked.

A long pause, and then a whisper.

“I... Someone raped me, and they’re going to let him get away with it.”

Darci froze. A knot formed in her stomach and the small office grew cramped to the point that she struggled to breathe. She didn’t do rape cases. They were too hard on her emotions. She was about to inform the girl she would transfer her to another representative when she remembered Jim Perkins was the only other one in the office today. Jim was amazing, but he wasn’t always as delicate as necessary for a situation like this. If she transferred this frightened girl to her gruff boss, they would lose her before they could help her. No, this was her client now. She pushed past the lump in her throat.

“I understand you aren't comfortable talking on the phone, but can you tell me if you’ve gone to the police?”

Another pause.

“I’m afraid I’ll lose my scholarship if I do.”

Damn it!This story sounded eerily familiar. Without asking questions, she could guess what this girl had been through since her attack.

The threats wouldn’t have been overt, they would have been subtle.

“Think about your academic future. A criminal trial might cause your grades to suffer, and then what would happen?” they would ask in a kind voice.

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