Chapter 51 – Offload

Margot’s POV

The gym doors slammed shut behind us with a loud, echoing clang, like we’d just stepped into the mouth of hell itself.

It stank of testosterone, old sweat, and cheap metal polish. The air was thick with it – thick enough to choke me if I wasn’t so thoroughly distracted by the unbearable heat already crawling under my skin.

It was busier inside compared to how it had been on Monday. Some men spotted Coban and seemed to wrap up their workout completely…

I felt increasingly warm, and I was unsure as to why, but then it dawned on me – I was so god damn flustered!

So badly flustered that I couldn’t even trust myself to make eye contact with anyone for more than two seconds. My hoodie was pulled tight around me, sleeves tugged down like armor, though we both knew there was no hiding the wild mess he’d made of my emotions.

He acted like he hadn’t just spent the last hours wrapped around me in bed, whispering filthy promises into my ear with a smirk that still burned behind my eyes.

Get a grip, Margot.

I chewed the inside of my cheek as we stepped further into the cavernous gym. Prisoners grunted over barbells. Weights clanked and slammed. The air buzzed with low music from a radio.

I scanned the space quickly, noticing Leo who gave Coban a one-handed wave, before scrambling to find my companion with a thankful sigh…

There in the corner, by the giant square window where the sun painted fractured rectangles across the concrete floor – she sat on the same chairs as before.

Cara!

Her knees were tucked up on the sofa, notebook in hand, pen tapping distractedly against her lip as she stared into space. She looked more intense compared to the last time I saw her here, two days ago, when we’d finally had a moment to breathe and talk together like actual people again…

That weird ache of relief bloomed in my chest, so warm and desperate it nearly made my knees buckle.

I was so happy she was here!

Making eye contact with her finally, she perked up and placed the pad down beside herself, relief washing over her own face next.

I took a step forward, already halfway to her in my mind, barely thinking about it – when something yanked me backwards so abruptly that I nearly toppled.

The material of my hoodie caught tight at the neck, and I choked on a surprised yelp as I was reeled back like a fish caught on a hook.

“What the hell-?” I gasped, rubbing at my throat dramatically for added effect.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Coban’s voice was low and deceptively calm. But his grip? It was anything but. He still didn’t let the material go.

I had stumbled back into place beside him, coughing slightly as I twisted to glance up at him. “Oh… um, over there? To sit with Cara?” I tried innocently, blinking. “While you… you know, workout and stuff?”

He stared down at me like I’d just announced I was heading off to start a prison riot. “Don’t remember you asking me if you could do that today…”

Oh great. We were back to this version of him again. The possessive, pissy one. Gone was the teasing warmth of this morning’s bed. The cuddles. The teasing. All of it wiped away like it never happened.

But I knew better than to fight him head-on. So I played it soft. Light. Apologetic. As I was learning I was best to.

“Sorry,” I said with syrupy politeness. “Can I please just sit with my friend while you workout?”

I even tilted my head a little. Gave him hopeful, wide eyes. The full performance.

“No.” He snapped instantly.

One word. One syllable. But it landed like a punch to the ribs.

“What?!” The word tumbled out of me before I could stop it, high and strangled. “But why not, Coban?!”

His brow lifted at hearing his name and even I was surprised – before slowly, his brows pulled back in like I’d just done something incredibly bold and a little bit stupid.

He didn’t answer right away. Just leaned in, real close, his voice a low, quiet hum that nobody else could hear.

“Because I know you’re going over there to chat shit about me, aren’t you, Bella?” he said, eyes narrowed like lasers. “You think I don’t know what girls like you do? Whispering and giggling about your scary criminal project guy behind his back? You planning to tell her that I promised to fuck you until you can’t walk too, hmm?” He grits, as my mouth falls dry.

Okay. Fair enough. He wasn’t entirely wrong. I was planning to tell her absolutely everything.

But still!

“Today’s a new day, remember?” I shot back at him quietly, pushing the words through the tightness in my throat. “That’s what you said this morning.”

A flicker of something passed through his eyes. Not anger, not quite. Something else. Doubt, maybe. Or guilt. He was beyond hard to read.

“Santo!” a voice then bellowed from across the gym. We both turned to see Leo scowling at us, arms out by his sides as he stood beside a half-loaded barbell. “Get over here and hold this before I drop it on your damn head!”

Coban rolled his eyes like a sulking teenager at the threat, then looked back at me.

There was a long pause. Tension thick as steel wires between us.

“Fine,” he muttered finally, voice like broken glass. He released the fistful of my hoodie and jabbed a finger toward Cara. “But same rules today. Don’t move from there. Don’t talk to anyone else. Don’t do anything stupid.”

I didn’t even wait to acknowledge him.

The second his grip loosened, I nodded and bolted before he could change his mind.

Crossing the gym felt like a finish line had just been revealed. I wove around clanking machines and glares from shirtless men until I reached her, my heart pounding for an entirely new reason now.

Cara was already standing, arms wide, brows drawn together in concern.

“Thank God,” I whispered, throwing myself into her arms. I clung to her like she was my last link to the real world. Because, honestly? She was.

“I’ve been watching you since you walked in,” she said quietly, hugging me tight. “What the hell’s going on with him? Are you okay?”

I nodded stiffly, then shook my head.

“I have no idea to be honest,” I whispered back. “He’s like ten different people in one body. I woke up to cuddles and sweet talk today, and now he’s practically growling at me in front of everyone.”

Cara snorted. “Sounds about right. They say the dangerous ones always come with mood swings and good abs! I thought you’d be dead after seeing him yesterday… did he uh… hurt you?”

I choked on a laugh, then collapsed into the chair beside her.

“Not exactly, no.” I started, as she looked somewhat relieved. “He just done everything but that…” I added, as she stared back at me in confusion.

I glanced back once – just once – to find Coban now beside Leo, grabbing weights, back muscles flexing as he helped load the bar. But even from here, I could feel the weight of his eyes.

Watching me. Claiming me. Every few minutes.

Here we go…