Drown: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Diamond Cove High Book 1)

by Gina Finley

  “You can.”

  “But how do I know that?”

  She doesn’t know how to answer me.

  “I’ll make a deal with you,” I tell her.

  She looks at me, wary.

  “For now, I won’t say anything to my father,” I say. “I’ll trust you. But I need to get to know you better.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Exactly what I said. I need to get to know you better. We need to spend more time together.”

  Her eyes narrow.

  “You’ll come over again tomorrow night,” I tell her. “We’ll hang out. I’ll learn more about you.”

  “I’m not coming here.”

  I shrug. “Fine. Your dad’s gonna have a rough day tomorrow then. Totally your choice.”

  She looks away.

  I don’t say anything.

  She finally turns back to me. “Fine. I’ll come over.”

  I nod. “Good choice. We’ll...get to know one another. Then I’ll decide if I can trust you.”

  “Can I go?” she asks. “Can I leave now?”

  I shake my head. “No.”

  “What the fuck?”

  “You can’t go home like that,” I say, standing. “Sit there for a second.”

  I walk over to my closet and open it. I rifle through some of the things on the hangers, then pull off a Diamond Cove hooded sweatshirt. It’s gray with red writing. I’ve worn it a hundred times.

  I close the closet and walk back over to her. “Stand up.”

  She hesitates, then stands.

  “I don’t have any pants that will fit you, but this should be long enough to cover you up,” I tell her. “What do you think?”

  “It’ll be fine.”

  “You sure?”

  “You want me to thank you? Is that what you’re looking for?” she asks.

  Such a mouth.

  I cannot wait to put it to better use.

  But she needs to be reminded of who she’s dealing with.

  “Turn around.”

  “What?”

  “Turn around,” I tell her. “So I can put this on you.”

  She hesitates, then turns around.

  I step in behind her, lay the sweatshirt over my shoulder, and put my hands on her hips. “You need to watch your mouth.”

  She doesn’t say anything.

  I reach around her waist with my right hand and palm her thigh. “You need to always remember something.”

  “What?” she asks.

  I slide my hand between her legs and cup her. She gasps.

  “Fuck, Cara,” I whisper in her ear. “You’re wet. That’s hot.”

  “Fuck you,” she hisses, grabbing at my hand.

  I wrap my other arm around her, pinning her arms to her sides. “You will. Eventually. Don’t worry.”

  “Not fucking ever.”

  I press my fingers against her panties, pushing into her just enough to make her gasp again.

  “You will,” I whisper.

  Then I let her go and throw the sweatshirt on the bed. “Get dressed and go home. And don’t forget to come back tomorrow.” I head for the door. “That would be a mistake on your part.”

  “You’re not even going to give me a ride home?” she asks.

  I stop at the door and turn around. “I’m not a fucking Uber. Find your own way home.”

  I slam the door behind me before she can say anything else.

  THIRTEEN

  Cara

  When I get home, the first thing I do is jump in the shower.

  To wash the whole night off of me.

  When I got outside of Dash’s home or estate or whatever the fuck it was, it took me a few minutes to get my bearings. I didn’t have my phone and I was walking through the street in his sweatshirt and my bare feet and I wondered if I’d just wander all night. But eventually I found a street I recognized and the walk to my house was shorter than I’d anticipated.

  My dad was asleep and the house was dark when I got in, so I walked straight to my room, stripped out of the sweatshirt and my underwear, and jumped into a hot shower.

  I stand there for at least half an hour, letting the hot water sting my face and my body. I can feel the sand and the sweat dripping off of my body and down the drain.

  But I can still smell him.

  Dash.

  The scent of the ocean on him and something that smells vaguely of sandalwood. I smelled it in the SUV and then in his room.

  And when he was up close to me.

  On top of me.

  I can still smell it so strongly that it’s like he’s in the shower with me.

  I finish cleaning up and get out. I towel off and pull on a clean pair of shorts and an old long-sleeved T-shirt I sleep in. I brush out my hair and then crawl into bed, not caring a bit that my hair is still wet.

  But I can’t sleep.

  The entire night was a fucking nightmare.

  Lucy setting me up.

  Whitney stripping me naked.

  Climbing into the SUV.

  The gun to my head.

  Dash on top of me.

  Then his fingers inside of me.

  Then kicking me out.

  The thing is, though...

  I’m not afraid.

  I’m fucking pissed.

  He wants me to be afraid.

  And maybe there is some small part of me that is. I don’t know what they’re doing, but it’s scary as hell and having him manhandle me reminded me that sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you want to fight, the stronger person will always win. He is bigger and stronger and I couldn’t have fought him off if I’d wanted to.

  But that’s what’s keeping me awake.

  Why didn’t I fight harder?

  I could’ve clawed.

  Or bitten.

  Or screamed.

  What did I have to lose?

  Well, until he brought my dad into it.

  That changed things.

  I won’t put my dad’s job in jeopardy. I know how hard things have been for him since my mom died. He’s busted his ass to take care of me and yeah, that’s meant moving around a lot. But I know how hard he’s worked and I know how certain he is that this is a job that might finally let us get ahead. So I’m not going to screw that up.

  Even if that means giving Dash the upper hand.

  For now.

  But there’s something else bothering me.

  Yes, I could’ve fought harder. I probably should’ve. But I didn’t so I have to live with that.

  No, there’s something else, though.

  It’s bothered me since I walked out of his house. It’s been on my mind the entire time.

  When Dash was on top of me.

  Each time he touched me.

  When he put his fingers inside of me.

  I felt helpless.

  But there was something else.

  I was excited.

  And that feels a little fucked up.

  But he was right.

  I was wet.

  There was some small part of me that was turned on in the moment, despite how he was treating me. Despite being scared.

  There was a part of me that maybe wanted him to keep touching me.

  I sit up in bed and shake my head.

  No.

  No.

  What the fuck am I even thinking?

  It had to be the fear and the adrenaline that was confusing me then and is confusing me now.

  I lay back down in the bed.

  There is no way I’m attracted to Dash Hamilton after what he did tonight.

  No way.

  FOURTEEN

  Dash

  “What did you do with her last night?” Tyler asks.

  It’s the next morning and we’re picking up coffee on our way to school. I’m driving my Escalade. Shane’s in the passenger seat, Tyler and Fox are in the back.

  “Sent her home,” I tell him.

  “Just like that?”

  “Just lik
e that.”

  “You think that’s smart?” Fox asks.

  “You think it’s not?”

  “I think we’re just wondering if she’s gonna keep her mouth shut,” Fox says.

  I check the rearview mirror and Tyler nods in agreement.

  “She won’t say a word,” I tell them. “It’s done.” I pull into the lot, bypass the drive thru line and park in front of the entrance. “Now go get the fucking coffee.”

  Fox and Tyler get out.

  I look at Shane. “What about you? You questioning me?”

  Shane shakes his head and stares straight ahead.

  We sit there in silence until they come back with our coffee. They get in and pass around the cups. I take a sip of mine, then set it in the drink holder. I pull out of the lot.

  “Don’t worry,” I tell them. “I had a conversation with her. She’s not going to say shit.”

  Fox nods. “Alright then.”

  Tyler drinks his coffee and looks out the window.

  “I checked the accounts this morning,” I tell them. “I unloaded his Bitcoin. Not as much as he bragged about having, but that was to be expected. Little over two million. I deposited your shares in your accounts already.”

  Tyler and Fox high five.

  “I’ll check the offshore accounts later today,” I tell them. “You’ll get yours by tomorrow morning.”

  “The fuck did that guy do to piss off your dad?” Fox asks.

  “Didn’t pay his bills,” I tell them. “My father’s company did some development work for him and he tried to stiff him.”

  “He ever pay up?” Tyler asks.

  “Eventually, but I believe he just haggled until the bitter end,” I say. “Pretty sure my dad just got tired of dealing with him and they agreed on a price and that was it. Taylor started telling people he won or some shit like that, like it was a contest. My dad mentioned him to me about a month ago and I told him we’d take care of him. And we did.”

  “Fuck yeah we did,” Fox says.

  And that’s what we do.

  My father, Dashiell Hamilton the fourth, is the most powerful person in Diamond Cove. Be straight with him, he’ll be straight with you.

  But fuck with him?

  That would be a mistake.

  Why do we do it?

  We don’t need the money. All of us are from rich families.

  But it’s fun.

  To steal and to fuck over people who are assholes.

  And Edwin Taylor is most definitely an asshole.

  My father doesn’t exactly ask us to do these things. There’s sort of a don’t ask, don’t tell policy in the house. The less he knows the better.

  But he knows.

  We’ve been doing this for two years now and we’re good at it.

  We’re good at everything.

  I pull into the school lot and park the Escalade in my space in the row closest to the buildings. I take a long drink from my coffee and watch other kids drift into school.

  “So what’s next?” Tyler asks.

  “Not sure yet,” I tell him. “When I know, you’ll know.”

  “Tell you what’s next for me,” Fox says. “Gonna find that piece of ass I hooked up with last night and get her to suck my dick before the day is over.”

  “Everyone needs a goal,” Tyler says.

  Shane almost smiles and shakes his head.

  We get out and, like usual, I can feel the eyes move in our direction. It used to make me nervous after we’d done a job, like everyone somehow knew and we were fucked. But now I know it’s just because it’s us and they can’t help themselves. They wish they were getting out of my Escalade and they wish they’d gotten coffee with us and they wish they’d gone surfing with us last night and they wish they’d disappeared with us when we’d left.

  We walk up the path toward the main building, then turn right to check out the courtyard before the first bell rings. The courtyard is where shit happens at Diamond Cove. Public breakups, pranks, and a whole lot of other shit. It’s this massive green lawn in the center of campus with stone benches and picnic tables. We have our own table and it’s empty when we get to the courtyard because we’d kick the shit out of anyone sitting at our table.

  I take a drink from the coffee and look around.

  I’m looking for Cara, but I don’t see her yet. There are lots of kids milling around and after a while they all start to look alike to me.

  Shane elbows me and I look at him. He lifts his chin in the direction of the far corner of the courtyard.

  And that’s when I see Cara.

  Talking to Teddy Sorenson.

  She’s wearing jeans and a red top. Her hair is down and shines in the morning sun. I had half a thought that she might not show up for school, but she’s here.

  And she looks incredible.

  Maybe I should have kept her for the night.

  Teddy is standing in front of her, blocking her path. She’s got both hands on the strap of the backpack slung over her shoulder. Two of his buddies are standing behind him, grinning. He’s leaning down over her.

  “The fuck is he doing,” I say.

  Shane leans forward, watching.

  Her mouth is set in a hard line and she doesn’t look happy. He’s saying something to her, smiling as he says it. He thinks he’s funny. She clearly doesn’t.

  “You seeing that, Dash?” Tyler asks.

  “I see it,” I growl.

  And then Teddy does a really stupid thing.

  He grabs her elbow.

  I stand.

  I guess he didn’t get the memo.

  Cara is mine.

  So I guess I need to deliver it.

  FIFTEEN

  Cara

  My day is already sucking.

  I forgot to set my alarm, so I woke up late and didn’t have time for breakfast. I contemplated staying home because I didn’t want to be here, but I knew that would cause my dad to ask questions. So I dressed and left, giving him a quick goodbye on my way out the door.

  But as soon as I get to campus, I realize I’ve made a mistake.

  Everyone is looking at me.

  So I’m already regretting not staying home when this asshole blocks my path and gets in my face.

  “Hey Cara,” he says. “Saw you last night.” He grins. “All of you.”

  He has two buddies standing behind him, grinning the same moronic grin.

  “Good for you.”

  “I liked what I saw,” he says.

  He looks like a football player. Block head, broad shoulders, some muscle underneath the baby fat. He might be nice looking if he wasn’t such an asshole.

  “I need to get to class,” I say, stepping to the side.

  He slides in front of me. “I said, I liked what I saw.”

  “I heard you the first time,” I answer. “And I still don’t care.”

  “Come on,” he says, stepping closer to me. “Don’t be like that. I’d think you’d be looking to make some friends here. I think you’d like being my friend.”

  “I think I’d rather eat rusty nails,” I say. “Move.”

  “Wow,” he says, pretending to take offense. “You’re kind of a bitch.”

  His buddies snicker.

  “Yeah, I am,” I tell him. “You finally got something right.”

  “So maybe you deserved last night,” he says. “Maybe we should strip you right here in the courtyard. See if that makes you more comfortable.”

  His buddies laugh again and a moment of panic ripples through me. I look around and see a few sets of eyes on us. I was totally helpless last night when Whitney and her minions pinned me to the sand and took my clothes. I don’t feel much safer here.

  He reaches out and snakes his hand around my hip and pulls me into him before I can stop him. “What do you think? Should we do that.”

  “Get your hand off of her, Miner,” a voice says.

  We both turn toward it.

  Dash is standing there, his eyes nar
row slits, glaring at this guy.

  “Hey, Dash,” he says, his hand sliding off my hip. “Just having a little fun.”

  “You know what would be fun?” Dash says. “Breaking your hand. Might make it a little hard to play ball, wouldn’t it?”

  He steps away from me. “Hey, man. I was just fucking around. I didn’t mean–”

  Dash steps in closer to him suddenly. “You didn’t mean what? Tell me, Jason. Tell me.”

  This Jason guy now looks far less sure of himself than he did thirty seconds ago. He’s looking down at the ground and he looks a lot smaller.

  “If you touch her again, I’ll break both of your hands,” Dash says. “Do you understand me? Or do you wanna try me?”

  “No,” Jason says. “I mean, yes. I get it. I hear you. We’re cool.”

  Dash smiles at him, but it’s cold and harsh. “Yeah. We’re so cool.” Then he looks at me. “Are you alright?”

  I hesitate, then nod. “Yeah.”

  He looks at Jason. “Did I ask you to stick around?”

  Jason and his buddies shuffle off.

  Dash looks down at me, concern on his face. “You sure you’re alright?”

  “I’m fine,” I tell him. “You didn’t have to do anything.”

  “Jason Miner is a prick,” he says. “I didn’t like him touching you.”

  I don’t know how to take his words.

  “If you run into him again, text me,” he says. “I’ll take care of him.”

  “I don’t have your number and more importantly, I don’t have a fucking phone,” I tell him. “Thanks to Whitney last night. And you.”

  He rubs his chin for a second, then scans the courtyard. He points at his trio of pals, who’ve been watching from across the courtyard, then motions away from them. The one I think is named Fox gets up and strides across the other side of the courtyard until he stops next to a group of girls.

  And Whitney.

  “I don’t need your help,” I tell him.

  “Relax,” he says.

  Easy for him to say.

  Fox says something to Whitney and they both look in our direction. Whitney’s mouth curls into an ugly grin and they both head in our direction.

  “Oh, great,” I mutter. “This just keeps getting better.”

  Whitney’s wearing a purple skirt, a lavender top and black leather boots up to her knees. She smells like she fell in a bottle of perfume. Fox trails behind her.