The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 150

**TITLE: Keeper**
**Chapter 150**

Coban’s POV

The morning hit me like a sledgehammer, a dull ache reverberating through my skull. It wasn’t the sharp, piercing kind that jolts you awake; rather, it was a heavy, relentless throb that seemed to echo the foolish choice I had made the day before—requesting Leo to break my own damn nose.

For a fleeting moment, I found myself disoriented, unsure of my surroundings. The sound of water cascading in the shower broke through the fog of my mind. Steam curled out from beneath the door, creating a hazy veil that blurred the edges of reality. My bleary eyes drifted to the heap of blankets that lay scattered on the floor, a disheveled reminder of the night before.

With a groan, I pushed myself into a sitting position, blinking rapidly to clear the remnants of sleep from my vision. Right…

Not Margot anymore. No, it was Cara now.

The swap had actually taken place; Margot was with Leo, and I was left with Cara—an arrangement I had almost forgotten in the depths of my slumber. It was the first night in what felt like ages that I had slept so soundly, a deep, dreamless sleep that had shielded me from the usual sounds that would normally rouse me.

In this place, even the faintest scrape of a shoe on the floor outside my door could pull me from the depths of sleep. But last night? I had barely stirred.

They had loaded me up with painkillers—strong ones too—and even though I had kept Cara at bay, I must have needed that unconsciousness more than I had realized. Yet, the pounding in my head was a cruel reminder that I was still very much alive.

Reaching for the small pack the doctor had handed me yesterday, I fished out two pills and dry swallowed them before retrieving a cigarette from my pack.

With a flick of the lighter and a deep inhale, the world around me began to sharpen, the edges of my thoughts crystallizing into focus.

The sound of the shower ceased, and I could sense movement behind the door. I exhaled a long plume of smoke, watching it curl and dance upward, a fleeting moment of clarity amidst the haze.

I felt a twinge of unease at the thought of Cara moving around without waking me. It gnawed at me that I had allowed myself to sink into such a deep sleep, oblivious to another presence in the room. Rule number one in this hellhole: Never let your guard down. Not even in your dreams.

But yesterday had been a whirlwind—a storm of chaos. The kill. The adrenaline crash that followed. The endless negotiations with the suits. And, of course, the damn nose. I had to ensure Margot was placed exactly where I wanted her, safe and sound.

My gaze wandered across the room and landed on a cardboard box wedged beside the desk. Inside, I could see lavender uniforms—Cara’s color, it seemed. A whole stack of them, waiting to be worn.

I took another slow drag from my cigarette, the smoke curling around me like a comforting embrace. It was none of my business what color she wore; she was Leo’s girl, not mine. I was merely… keeping an eye on her until we could swap back.

Just then, the door clicked open, and I turned my head toward it…

Cara stepped out, her bright smile illuminating the dim room. Her hair was wrapped in a towel, and she wore lavender joggers and a loose tee that made her look more like she was heading to a yoga class than facing another day in prison.

“Good morning!” she chirped, her voice bubbling with cheerfulness that felt almost out of place for the hour, too loud for the confined space we occupied.

I nodded once, my response muted.

She glanced down at the floor where she had spent the night and scrunched her nose in distaste. “You know, the floor isn’t exactly comfy,” she began, crossing her arms defiantly. “Margot seriously won’t mind if you let me share the bed for a few days. We could top and tail? I’ll sleep at the bottom?”

I huffed, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at her suggestion.

Casting her a level stare, I exhaled a cloud of smoke slowly. “It’s nothing to do with Margot,” I replied, my tone flat. “I don’t like sharing shit with anybody. Trust me, I’ve made her sleep on that floor plenty of times too.”

Cara rolled her eyes dramatically, and I half-expected them to detach from her head. “Yeah, well,” she shot back, “Leo lets me share!”

“Good for Leo,” I grunted, shrugging dismissively.

“Maybe try being a human for once?” she retorted, her eyes narrowing.

I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her boldness. I wasn’t accustomed to such a strong personality; Margot and Cara were like night and day.

Cara was feisty, yes, but I had also seen her terrified, vulnerable side too. Deep down, beneath her bravado, she was just another scared girl trying to navigate this hellhole.

Leo certainly had his hands full with her, that much was clear.

But I let it slide. I wasn’t about to waste my breath arguing with her before breakfast. She wasn’t mine to fight.

Taking another drag, I stretched my shoulders, trying to work out the stiffness that had settled in overnight.

Today was crucial.

I was going to see Margot.

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