Page 10 of Protected

“You got it boss. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Bradley smiled. He needed to do something nice for her. He couldn’t ask for a more efficient assistant or a better friend.

Bradley summoned all his courage and headed to Sean Atleigh’s office. The distinguished looking man with salt and pepper hair was perched on the corner of his desk chatting with an intern about ‘the good ole days’ when Bradley arrived. For a moment, he held back and listened to his mentor tell his stories. Atleigh had a booming voice and stood over six feet tall. He wore elegant, well-tailored three-piece suits, and he didn’t mind flashing his wealth. That didn’t stop him from rolling up his sleeves to work with interns and low-level staffers to accomplish his goals. Bradley observed for another minute before he made his presence known and dismissed the junior staffer. As he closed the door, he braced himself for the possibility that his boss might fire him on the spot.

The senator handled the news better than expected. Sean thanked Bradley for giving him a heads up before it leaked to the media. He assured him he had a job as long as he wanted one.

“Your father is a good man. I may not agree with his platform, and I’m sure he disagrees with mine, but I trust him not to cheat. More importantly, I trust you. If it becomes an issue closer to the election, we’ll deal with it.”

For the first time since he found his dad waiting in his office, Bradley could breathe easy. He inhaled as the weight lifted from his shoulders.

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate the confidence. At any rate, if I know my father, he won’t announce for at least another couple of weeks. I don’t even think he has a full staff together yet.”

The senator nodded. “We’ll be fine, son. The first primaries are still several months away, and you’ve assembled an excellent team for us.”

They spoke for a few more minutes about the election before moving to the agenda for their scheduled meeting. Bradley left Atleigh’s office later that afternoon with confidence about his job and telling his father no. That Darci knew his father planned to run before he did perplexed him, though. It was important to gather research on her.

Her blog was carnal and appealed to his baser desires. It never occurred to him she might hold power in the sphere of D.C. politics. He packed up his briefcase and got on the elevator. His fingers brushed the business card in his pocket as he rode down to the first floor. He intended to learn all he could about the stunning redhead tonight. Beyond what she sounded like when he made her come.

5

DARCI stood in front of a full-length mirror examining her appearance for Exposure. It had been months since she’d gone to the exclusive BDSM club, but after seeing Bradley today; she knew she couldn’t let him keep her away anymore. Before the club opened, she went to parties several times a month at Gage or Edith’s house. Then she’d met Damion and her short relationship with him had done a number on her mental health. After Bradley didn’t show up at the club again, she couldn’t bring herself to show up anymore. Now that she had a reason to dislike him and could look past her fantasies about him, it should be easier to go back.

It took all day to work up the courage to attend and choosing an outfit had been painful. She couldn’t back out now. The black over-bust corset with hints of teal blue seemed to speak to her. She paired it with a pair of black stockings and a garter belt with the same shade of teal running through it. A black miniskirt, and thin leather choker completed the outfit.

She glanced at the clock while she pulled on her long dress coat. Almost nine-thirty, things would be hopping at Exposure. She slipped on a pair of sky-high stilettos and stepped outside into the crisp night to wait for the cab. She prayed Damion wouldn’t be there but knew she would undoubtedly run into him. While he violated her trust, which led to her walking away, it hadn’t been egregious enough to get his membership revoked. Though Gage had assured her that his friend was on a short leash. Maybe she needed to stop looking at friendship with Gage as a good trait in a man. It was Gage who had invited Bradley to Exposure as well.

The cab dropped her off at a commuter lot where a black SUV was waiting to take her the rest of the way to Exposure.

Club Exposure was a massive warehouse on the outskirts of town and usually stayed full on Friday and Saturday nights. The decorations were a mix of vibrant reds and blacks. The lobby held a small reception desk for collecting door fees and waivers. Behind the station, A large open archway led into the heart of the club. The main play space held St. Andrew’s crosses, spanking benches, and other furniture for attaching people to. To the outsider, it might appear to be a medieval torture chamber, but to those in the lifestyle, it looked like pure ecstasy.

Everything was spaced, so people had room to play. Nobody wanted a whip to the face from somebody else’s scene. Off the main play area, were several smaller rooms for specific fetish play, such as fire and wax, a medical room, and a quiet room. The main dungeon could get loud sometimes as cries of pain mixed with pleasure echoed throughout the room. A social area housed a small bar and couches and tables where people could chat without disrupting the play of others. Her favorite room in the place was the library. At least it had been until she’d taken Bradley to see it. Now she couldn’t even think about going in there.

Darci had been at the club for less than twenty minutes, and she regretted coming. She spotted Damion right away, and he brought a companion. He said hello to her, but it was awkward, so Darci escaped to the bar.

There was no chance of playing tonight, so a drink was OK. She sighed as she sipped her whiskey and settled on one of the black leather couches. The club opened a little over a year ago. Membership had grown, but it was still exclusive and difficult to gain access to since it wasn’t a club that advertised its existence. Darci, along with her dearest friends Peter and Carrie, had been among the founding group of members when the club first opened.

A hand touched her shoulder, jerking her out of her memory. It was her friend Marlie Dixon.

“Hey gorgeous. It’s so good to see you here tonight. It’s been too long.”

She smiled and hugged the woman. “It’s great to see you, honey. How have you been?”

Marlie came around the couch and sat next to her. “Stressed as fuck. My house got broken into last night.”

Darci gasped and grabbed her hands. “Are you OK?”

Marlie waved it off. “I’m fine. The house is fine. Just a busted lock and a few broken trinkets. It’s just been a pain dealing with the police. Will I see you at the benefit tomorrow?”

Darci nodded. “You know it. I even bought a new dress. You’re doing great work, you know that?”

Marlie smiled. “Thanks. After I escaped from Frank, it seemed like the right thing to do.”

Darci squeezed her hand. Marlie left an abusive and powerful husband several years ago, and had since made a name for herself in D.C. as an advocate for domestic abuse survivors.

Marlie waved at someone across the room and stood. “I’ve got a play date lined up for tonight. It was good seeing you, honey.”

“You be careful. Let me now if you want to crash at my house. A break-in sounds terrifying.”

Marlie bent down and kissed her cheek. “It’s not the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. See ya honey.”

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