Loathing Temptation (Lockgrove Bay #1) - Caz May Page 0,1

fibs, but I’d rather get hit than have him hit Ava or Mummy.

“I’m telling the truth. Someone took it.”

He’s fuming at me, like a bull out in the paddocks down the road. His words are loud when he responds, “That’s the fifth basketball you’ve ‘lost’ Ashton. Shit like that doesn’t grow on trees. You need to learn your lesson about the value of property.”

“I don’t get you, Daddy,” I reply meekly, fighting back tears.

He doesn’t reply then, and I step back, desperately wanting to escape the room when his hands start to undo his belt. I hear the sound of the leather cracking when he yanks it out of the loops on his pants.

And I gulp, telling my feet to move, to run from him. But I can’t. I can’t move an inch, or the beating will be worse. I don’t like that daddy does this to me.

“Pants down boy,” daddy commands, wrapping the end of his belt around his fist.

My knees are wobbly as I slip my trackies down to my ankles. The cold air hits my bum, and I brace myself for the first hit. Again I hear the crack of the leather and then the smack of it against my skin. It burns, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the scream escaping my mouth.

Daddy moves closer to me, caging me in. And without giving me any warning, his belt cracks against my bum again.

One. Two. Three. Four.

I’m counting in my head, wondering how many times he’s going to smack the leather against my backside. It’s practically numb but is also throbbing and I just want it to be over so I can run to my bed and cry myself to sleep.

I close my eyes then, waiting for the final blow of the belt against my skin, but it doesn’t come and I feel relief rush through me for a moment, until the heel of Daddy’s hand smacks harder against my skin.

Once. Twice.

Six smacks. Six markings on my skin. And this time they hurt so much more than they ever have.

I hate my daddy.

But now I also hate Tempany Davies.

She did this to me because she took my basketball.

One

Ashton

10 years later

It feels surreal that this day is finally here. The first day of year twelve, the last year before I can get the fuck out of Lockgrove Bay, and move to the city where my dad can’t find me. Unless mum opens her trap. She might be free of him according to the divorce papers but he still controls her every move, holding money over her and using the house as collateral; a bargaining chip so Mum jumps when he says so.

I’d cut him off to—the prick—but he pays my way, pays my school fees for Lockgrove Preparatory. And that means I can own the hallways as captain of the elite Lockgrove Lions for this final year in hell.

Turning the Camaro into my reserved car park, I cut the engine, grabbing my gym bag and slinging it over my shoulder. Glancing around the courtyard, I sigh looking at all the familiar faces, and feeling a knot twist in my stomach. Every damn person looks like they took some happy pills—some molly—over the summer holidays and they’re all floating into Lockgrove Preparatory like they actually want to be here.

I’d rather be as far away as possible. Especially because Mum has told me my new stepsister is likely to be starting school today, and when I meet her I’m expected to play nice.

She’s only told me her name is Te and she’s in year eleven.

Like I should actually even give a fuck.

I have a sister, I don’t need another one. Ava’s a brat—a sweet one—but still a brat and making sure she doesn’t get herself into trouble at school is enough shit to deal with, with basketball, and trying not to flunk Maths so daddy dearest lays off.

I don't need anymore girl drama.

Tentatively I walk across the courtyard, and I’m startled by a slap on the back.

“Hey dipshit, you got ya balls back yet?”

I laugh, slapping my hand against my best mate Zeke’s in greeting.

“Hey bro. And yeah I put my big boy daks on. Fallon can go fuck a tree.”

“Wouldn’t put it past her. She’d fuck anything.”

“Harsh, mate.”

“You aside, man. Still don’t know why you tapped that when you could have had your pick, and played the court.”

We walk in the front gate, and I spot my ex-girlfriend Fallon Warner sauntering towards me with a