Damn…

The Prison Project

Chapter 73 – Time Flies

Margot’s POV

Leo and Cara returned to the bench, each of them holding two dripping bottles of cold water. I could’ve cried at the sight of it alone.

Cara tossed me one with a grin. “Here, you need this more than I do,” she said as she sank down beside me again, a sheen of sweat glistening on her own forehead, though she still managed to look breezy in her lilac tee and easy confidence.

I caught the bottle mid-air and twisted the cap off quickly, taking a greedy gulp. The coolness hit my tongue and traveled down my throat like salvation.

“You’re a saint,” I muttered, sighing to show my relief.

“I try,” she winked, nudging me lightly.

I shifted slightly, still pinned tightly under Coban’s arm, his grip not loosening in the slightest since Cara and Leo had left.

My side was practically merging into his now. Every breath I took pressed my ribcage up against the wall of his chest, and I could feel the heat from him more than the sun itself.

He hadn’t said another word since the others had walked off – just sat there, watching, brooding, his fingers curled possessively at my hipbone like I might try to run from him.

I wasn’t sure if I found it reassuring or suffocating. Maybe both. Probably both.

Leo took a long drink from his bottle before settling back into a slouched position, one ankle propped on his knee, arm resting along the back of the bench behind Cara. His eyes flitted between all of us, and I could tell he was amused by the shift in dynamics, especially Coban’s intense claim on me.

“I hope you two will be passing over good things about the pair of us tomorrow at the first report,” he said lightly, flashing that cheeky grin that always seemed to come easy to him. “Don’t go breaking our hearts with some tragic stories, alright?”

I felt Coban’s body stiffen beside me before his gaze shifted down to mine. I didn’t dare to look up, but I could feel the weight of his stare burning into me, sharp as a blade.

Cara, oblivious or maybe just unbothered, beamed.

“Always!” she chimed, practically glowing. “I’ll make you sound like a gentleman, Leo. You’ll be reformed in no time.”

Leo laughed, pleased, and leaned over to kiss her cheek dramatically. Cara flushed a little but didn’t move away.

I hesitated at the sight…

They seemed to be moving fast… and now I knew that Cara had even been considering sleeping with him…. I just hoped that she knew what she was getting herself into.

“What about you, Bella? Passing over good things about my brother Santo too, hmm?” Leo hummed, involving me more than I would have liked to be in his little conversation.

My mouth opened automatically, and I answered before I could stop myself.

“Of course…” I said.

But my tone betrayed me.

The words came out too soft, too unsure, and immediately I knew it didn’t land the way I had meant for it to.

Coban’s fingers twitched at my side. Just a small movement. But I felt it. Like an unspoken warning. I glanced up nervously at him, already knowing I hadn’t sounded convincing.

His jaw was tight. Eyes cold. Watching me like I’d just admitted that I planned to betray him in front of the entire yard…

I swallowed. “I didn’t mean for it to sound so…” I started to explain, but stopped myself.

Backpedaling would only make it worse.

It was the tone he didn’t like. Not the words I’d said.

I quickly looked down at the bottle in my hands, twisting the cap back and forth even though it was already open.

Cara, sensing the shift in the air, cleared her throat. “It’s crazy how fast this week has gone in, isn’t it?” she tried, attempting to steer the conversation away from the awkward turn. “Feels like we’ve been in here forever with you guys!”

“Time flies when you’re living with a psychopath,” Leo joked, motioning between himself and Coban.

Coban didn’t laugh.

He just stared ahead, unreadable. Thinking. Always thinking.

Leo raised an eyebrow. “I’m kidding, Santo. Don’t go stabbing me with your mind now…”

Finally, Coban spoke. His voice was low. Measured. Dangerous.

“If I could stab you with an actual object, then I’d prefer that," Coban retorted dryly, announcing his mood to the rest of us.

Leo whistled under his breath and turned to Cara. “See? Always so charming…”

She giggled nervously, unsure of what to do or say, but I didn’t dare to laugh.

I stayed entirely silent, the bottle now slick in my hands from my sweaty grip.

I didn’t know what Coban was thinking or what he planned for me next.

That was the worst part.

After everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, I thought we might’ve been making progress. But clearly, one unsure word from my mouth could still flip a switch in him.

I glanced up again, cautiously. His eyes met mine this time. Steady. Direct.

He didn’t blink.

I offered a small smile as a peace offering, weak, but genuine, hoping to soften whatever storm might be stirring behind that stare.

After a moment, he finally looked away, exhaling out through his nose.

But he didn’t let go of me, not yet.

In fact, his hand moved slightly, fingers spreading across the small of my back now, pressing firmer, like he wanted to remind me he was still in control of me. Like he wanted everyone else to see that too.

I shifted subtly, leaning a little more into him. Not because I wanted to. But because I needed to, needed him to believe I understood the line I was walking on. That I didn’t mean to upset or offend him all of the time.

Because I really didn’t.

He was tricky to navigate, and I had tried my best all week, despite being a major fail at it so far.

I was trying.

Leo and Cara continued chatting, their conversation drifting toward something lighter, music, I think, or some artist Cara used to like growing up as Leo mocked her for it.

I didn’t follow much of it…

I was too busy watching the shadows shift across Coban’s face. Waiting to see if he’d speak to me again. Waiting to see what version of him I’d be walking back to the cell with.

Waiting to see if tomorrow’s report would be our first step toward peace…

“Come on, let’s go back in,” he suddenly announced, his cheeks slightly rosy now from the sun.

I was grateful, just as I was beginning to feel my own shoulders burn, before he stood, turning to stop me from standing up with him…

“Jumper,” he snapped out one word, as I sighed and reluctantly pulled the thick material back on top of my sweat-coated skin, all the while he shielded me from view.

The way it stuck to me turned my stomach, as I felt like the world’s biggest idiot…

Next time, I’ll wear the damn tee!