The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 52

Margot’s POV

I sank deeper into the chair beside Cara, still trying to steady my breathing…

The gym’s noise faded into the background as I replayed my morning with Coban, debriefing my friend on my latest crime watch experience in the cell…

“He would kill me if he heard, but it was almost as though he woke up a little… softer today,” I murmured, voice low, almost like admitting it aloud would shatter his ego from across the room. “Like someone else was in his body for a minute. But then he flipped back. Snapped right back to being his usual unfazed and cocky self.”

Cara tilted her head, watching me carefully. “Soft? That sounds… dangerous. Like a trap almost… but you like him that way, don’t you? You warm to him when he’s softer?” Cara’s teeth spread, as though she had clocked something for the first time that I didn’t dare to admit.

And had she?

I rolled my eyes before shrugging weakly, twisting my fingers together in my lap. “Do you blame me for liking that side of him more?! The other side scares the hell out of me! But it’s exhausting too… I don’t know if I’m supposed to be scared, grateful, or just completely confused by him.”

Sighing, Cara nodded her understanding quickly. “Look, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows with Leo either, he can be ridiculously rude and entitled… he thinks I’m only in here to wait on him hand and foot sometimes!” Cara retorts with a snort, but we both knew that whatever either of them asked of us, we would comply…

“What are you writing there anyhow?” I lean forward to peak beside her at the notepad she had brought here with her.

Her brows raise in surprise, as though she had completely forgotten all about it, as she twists to lift it up to show me…

“We only have today and tomorrow to write our reports for Saturday remember! I wanted to get a head start in writing something down so that I wasn’t rushing it! There’s so much to write about, it was daunting at first but once I got started, it all just seemed to flow from there!” Cara flicks back the page, showing me how many points she had written down already as I shuffle closer to take a better look.

‘Leo doesn’t like being out of his routine which means maintaining exceptional time keeping for myself.”

My eyes scanned that first point as I laughed to myself, gaining her attention.

“What’s funny?” She immediately needs to know, as I glance up to look at Coban who curled large weights up in both hands.

“Your first point, about Leo always being on time and in his routine. Coban is just the total opposite! He doesn’t give a shit if we miss anything – like breakfast today for example. He goes at his own pace, but with that, doesn’t like waiting on anyone either. His patience is ridiculously short.” I explain, as Cara giggles at my comparison of the two who were somehow best friends.

“Well there you go, you’ve got your first point about him already!” Cara smiles and nods, as I sigh gently.

“You’re right, I’ll start writing something up later too.” I agree, taking her advice on getting a head start as she closes over her notepad and hums in approval.

Before either of us could say anything else, the gym doors swung open again, and a couple stepped inside.

My eyes immediately caught the girl’s short, sharp features, curly hair pulled back in to a bun on top of her head. I froze, my heart skipping a beat.

Sarah.

The girl I’d accidentally knocked over during the laundry run.

The one who’d shot me a look of gratitude that still burned on my skin.

The one Coban had listened to me over, deciding to defend her…

Cara noticed my sudden stiffening. “Do you know her?”

“Hey Margot!” She beamed, her voice still a little jittery but soft nonetheless.

“Hey Sarah, how are you? This is my best friend Cara.” I smiled at her, motioning towards Cara who also grinned her way.

“It’s nice to meet you Cara! I’ve been okay, well since you done me a solid with the laundry run that is!” Sarah attempted to joke, pulling at her lemon yellow collar as though she was too hot.

And I didn’t blame her either, since it was ridiculously warm today. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around why the men in here even wanted to work out in this temperature!

On that, feeling my cheeks redden further, I made the executive decision to pull my grey sweatshirt up and over my head, freeing my bare arms from the fluffy sleeves…

I crumpled it up beside me, my head falling back as I allowed my body temperature to regulate itself before…

“Margot, babe! I’d seriously put that back on, he looks like he’s going to kill you right now… a sports bra isn’t the best option in a room full of dangerous men…”

Hearing Cara’s words, a sharp gasp tore through me,

SHIT!