Chapter 55 – In Deep

Coban’s POV

I shoved her in hard enough that she stumbled and fell.

Didn’t mean for her to hit the floor like that – but I didn’t stop it from happening either.

The door slammed behind her with a finality that shook the entire frame.

I stood on the outside of it for a second longer, jaw clenched, hand still pressed to the metal like some part of me hadn’t committed to walking away from her yet.

She deserved to be taught a lesson about this place once and for all.

But I had to walk. I couldn’t be in there with her right now.

Not like this.

Not with my blood boiling and my thoughts snarling and snapping at my hands, longing to be set free.

She had no fucking clue what she’d just done either. No clue what kind of eyes had been on her in that gym the second her little vestless mistake turned into a goddamn peep show.

She didn’t understand this place, didn’t listen to me either. Not even after I’d warned her. Not even after I ripped the towel from her body that day – an attempt to make her understand how quickly somebody in here could and would take advantage of her.

I tried to teach her. To make rules to keep her in line. But now, it was almost as if she enjoyed dancing over my fucking lines right in front of my face!

A temptress. A tease perhaps? Maybe she wasn’t as stupid as she let on? Maybe she enjoyed my reactions?

But what she didn’t realise was that I wasn’t just trying to scare her for the fun of it in here…

I was trying to keep her stupid ass alive.

If these men could use her to get to me, then they wouldn’t hesitate.

But she didn’t get it. Still.

So what the fuck will it take? Does she want me to beat her purple? Slam each one of my rules into her thick fucking skull?

But I knew that I wouldn’t.

Especially after what she admitted to me on the first day… Her father had subjected her to years of abuse from what I’d picked up on, similar to my own at the best of times… but the difference was, I was taught to be a man.

She was fragile.

I wouldn’t be the one to completely break her, because I knew if my temper snapped completely, that I very much could!

God, she looked so damn soft standing there in that white thing, completely oblivious to the danger of eyes that lingered too long as her head fell back.

Newman’s eyes… Everyone’s damn eyes…

She didn’t know how fast things could go south here. How quick men in this place decided to take what wasn’t theirs.

And if one of them had even looked like they were going to try?

I wouldn’t have held back. I would’ve crushed their necks with my knee.

Which was why I couldn’t be in that cell with her right now.

Because the next time she made some innocent mistake like that, I didn’t know if I’d be able to stop myself from teaching her exactly what the cost of those mistakes would be here.

Not in a way that made her cry and run off. No. In a way that would gut me afterward.

I couldn’t seem to find it in me to do that.

Not to her.

Even if she had stepped in here only days ago, managing to drive me fucking insane.

She was my ticket out of here. My only chance. I have one job – and it’s keeping her alive!

I turned on my heel and stalked back down the corridor, fists clenched, my breath sharp and fast in my throat. By the time I reached the gym again, the heat still hadn’t left me.

Leo was on the treadmill, shirtless, glistening with sweat. Bastard had been running at a full sprint like he was training for some Olympic qualifier.

His eyes flicked toward me over his shoulder, slowing to a fast walk the second he caught sight of my face.

Cara flinched on the couch nearby, sitting next to that other girl – Newman’s one, who Margot had knocked over in the laundry run. The two of them were huddled close, whispering, wide-eyed like kids caught in a horror film.

Cara’s lips parted as she saw me stalk across the floor. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t need to. The worry was written all over her face.

Good. Let them all be nervous for their little friend.

I was in no mood for conversation.

Leo kept his pace, his tone light. “Don’t you tell me you’ve killed her…” he muttered, smirking, “I was starting to think you actually liked the girl too.”

My scowl deepened.

“Shut the fuck up.”

Leo let out a low whistle. “So that’s a ‘no,’ then. She’s still breathing. Interesting.”

I didn’t answer.

He pressed the stop button and the treadmill began to slow to a crawl. He stepped off, grabbing a towel from the bar and wiping his face with it lazily.

“Want to tell me what the hell that was about? You almost took my foot off, you maniac.”

“She was sat there exposed.” The words ripped out of me like a growl. “Wearing a tiny goddamn sports bra and nothing else. No vest. Nothing.”

Leo shrugged, tossing the towel over his shoulder. “So?”

“So?” I barked, voice too loud in the echoing gym. “Half this room wanted to fuck her the second they saw extra skin. You think I’m gonna stand around and let that happen?”

He raised a brow, letting the silence sit a moment longer than I liked as he thought on it.

“Yeah, I probably would have done the same thing with Cara.” Leo finally agreed. “We are in deep with those two!” He grumbled next.

My fists clenched tighter. “I’m not.”

“Oh, sure. That’s why you looked ready to rip the walls down because she forgot to dress how you like. Not because she was in danger – because it was you who didn’t like what you saw.” He chuckled again, shaking his head.

“She’s mine in here,” I bit back, sharp as a blade.

Leo chuckled low under his breath, shaking his head. “You don’t even realise it yet, do you?”

I didn’t respond. Couldn’t.

Because the truth was – I did realise it.

That girl had gotten under my skin in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

She was naïve for coming here, sure, but she wasn’t like the others.

And it made me insane. Insane with the need to protect her. Insane with the need to control her. And even worse… insane with the need to keep her here.

Leo sighed, “Look Santo, all I’m saying is… this ends one of two ways. You either show her the ropes without losing your mind – or you lose yourself over destroying the one good thing you’ve had in a long time.”

He turned and walked off toward the water fountain, leaving me with that truth hovering over me like a goddamn curse…