The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 134

Coban’s POV

I watched them for a long beat – my Bella and Cara – two women pressed together on the other sofa, hands clenched so tight that their knuckles turned white.

They looked terrified in a way that made my chest ache.

Margot kept stealing glances at me, like she was cataloguing every line on my face to make sure I wasn’t going anywhere.

I couldn’t let her be taken away.

I won’t.

‘Leo,‘ I said, low, as he sat with me.

“You look like you’ve swallowed a grenade, bro. This whole thing is fucking bullshit ain’t it?!” He grits out, as I nod stiffly.

I got pulled by the suits for a meeting last night, after the whole thing with Newman…” I keep my tone low as I waste no time, as Leo’s eyes widen.

“The fuck did they want with you? I hope to hell they aren’t trying to say you were involved!” He spat out, his annoyance for the men matching my own.

“Nah it’s not what you think… they actually wanted my help.” I trail off, eyes flicking towards the chatting girls to ensure they weren’t listening in.

This mess didn’t have to involve them any further than it already had. They were terrified for their friends state and I knew my Bella wouldn’t condone what I had been asked to do…

“Help?” Leo repeated, as I shuffled in the chair, nodding.

“They want me to clean up Newman… make sure that what he did doesn’t get out…” I speak cryptically but Leo didn’t need anymore than that.

He knew what I meant.

He knew they wanted me to kill him.

“So what are you getting in return for doing that then?!” He hums expectantly, as I groan.

“Haven’t gave them my terms yet, but this would be a great time to…” I state, motioning towards the pair opposite us. “Given the bullshit now that they are trying to split us all up…”

I told him more details on the suits, the meeting last night, the line about “removing” Newman.

How they d leaned in, all corporate smiles, and made it sound like a tidy administrative fix.

How they wanted it to look like inmate–on–inmate business. A conflict between prisoners that would be marked as ‘expected‘ in an experiment like this.

Leo’s face did this short, ugly twist in a half–laugh. “My only advice would be, you should make sure to tell your Dad about this!”

I scoffed, immediately irritated by the mention of my father.

Of that bastard.

“You know that I’m right, Coban! If you’re making deals with the suits then he will at least make sure they stick to their end of the deal!” Leo explains his thought process, and the worst part of it all was… I knew he was right.

“Yeah but what will he want from me in return?!” I spit, knowing my father wouldn’t have my back for nothing…

Leo fell silent, the pair of us knowing it was a dangerous game to negotiate with a man like my father being his son or not.

“Anyway… I’m thinking that we can use this to our advantage. Take leverage with these extra privileges they have promised… have them bend the rules for us – make things easier.” I grumble, before I catch my Bella staring from the corner of my eye.

My lips fall in to a line, and with one glance, she gasped and turned back to Cara.

“Yeah, that all sounds real cute on paper,” Leo said. “But how you gonna find them? They aren’t just wondering around this place like common guards…” he puffs out a ball of air.

‘I’ll find a way… but I’ll need you to stay here, stay with them. I can’t get shit done with Bella stuck to my hip.” I motion towards her with my head as Leo chuckles at the request.

“Great, so I’ve been demoted from violent side–kick to babysitter.” He snorts, as I can’t help but smirk amusingly at the statement.I stood, stretching out my limbs before cracking my knuckles as if preparing already for a fight.

Bella’s eyes were on me the second I’d moved, curious and cautious to why I was up and where I was going.

“You’re going to stay here with Leo and Cara until I get back.” I nod firmly, leaving no room for debate as Margot looks confused.

“I won’t be long, just got some shit I need to take care of. You don’t have to worry.” I add, tone confident as I watched her shoulders settle only a little.

I turned back to Leo, who had stood up himself too, announcing that he may as well get a workout in whilst I’m gone…

“Keep an eye on her!” I reiterate, as Leo rolls his eyes waving me off.

“Go do your thing, I have this nanny service shit under control!” He huffs, as I roll my eyes and head for the door without another word.

The plan had to move and it had to move fast.

Quiet. Clean.

But where the fuck would I find them? Where do I start?

Deciding to head downstairs for the security exit, I took that as my starting point.

I’d rip this whole damn compound upside down to find them by nightfall if I had to, especially before I would even consider handing off my Bella to another inmate.