The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 67

Margot’s POV

Lunch was beginning to feel almost… enjoyable.

That was new for me…

Leo and Cara had somehow fallen into this easy rhythm of flirtation – one I hadn’t been around long enough to witness before.

Cara, always the braver one of us both, had turned into a blushing, giggling version of herself, and Leo seemed to be eating it up like it was his personal dessert.

“You’ve got ketchup on your lip,” Leo teased, nudging her tray with his knuckle as I glanced over at her to find nothing at all on her face.

What is he talking about?

Cara scoffed, swiping at her mouth. “No I don’t!” She defended, checking her hands to find no trace of the sauce.

Leo raised a brow. “It’s still there… let me help get it…” he leaned in, his tongue flicking across her lips and causing for her to squeal in response.

She playfully smacked his arm, her cheeks lighting up as he laughed at her naivety. “Stop that you weirdo!”

It was strange seeing her like this – warm, light and fully open to him.

But what was worse was, I realised that I too was doing the exact same thing with someone like Coban. What was it about these men that could make us ignore every single red flag like we had signed up for blind dating and not prisoner reform?

What exactly were we here to reform too? Their sex drives?!

Still, watching Cara and Leo joke around helped. It made me feel less insane, less like I was the only one being dragged by my emotions through some twisted rehabilitation maze, She wasn’t afraid to lean into it. Maybe I didn’t need to be either? Perhaps I could take a page from her book…

I picked up another fry, chewing slowly as their laughter became a background hum. My gaze drifted lazily across the cafeteria, scanning over the heads of strangers, the clatter of trays, the buzz of conversation…

And then I saw him.

“Oh my God,” I gasped, shooting upright. “He’s back! He’s here!”

My hand flew up in the air without even thinking, like I was hailing a damn taxi.

Cara turned with wide eyes, and Leo twisted in his seat beside her, following my line of sight.

Coban.

He looked like a storm walking on two legs – black gym shorts that clung to thick, powerful legs, covered in twisting tattoos that I’d only barely glimpsed before to avoid staring too long…

A plain black t–shirt stretched over his torso like it was one wrong move away from giving up. His body was relaxed, but his face? His face was locked in that unreadable, dangerous mask again. His jaw was set. His brow low. Eyes cold as they searched the area.

But then, his gaze eventually landed on me.

For a second, everything else in the cafeteria dropped out of existence.

He saw me. And I knew it. And suddenly I wasn’t so sure I’d survive this lunch.

Coban stalked forward, eating the distance with long, purposeful strides.

“You out of the dog house already, Santo?” Leo called, smirking as if none of us could feel the sharp crackle of tension in the air.

It always shocked me how unbothered Leo was by his moods, comfortable enough to tease him when his temper was above boiling point… it was bold.

But Coban didn’t even glance at him. His eyes were solely locked on me.

“He’s right, he trusts Leo and therefore trusts you being with him!” She smiled.

But I didn’t trust anything about this place. Or about Coban’s temper. He was tricky to manage at the best of times.

He hadn’t even mentioned the notebook yet too. That timebomb was still ticking somewhere behind his eyes.

‘I hope you’re right…” I mumbled, staring toward the food line as Coban picked up a tray like he owned the damn place. People stepped aside for him without him even looking up. His energy alone parted crowds.

He wasn’t afraid of anyone.

Not even the guards, apparently.

I glanced down at the last part of my grilled cheese and felt my appetite wither away.

Cara reached under the table and squeezed my knee lightly. “You’re fine,” she whispered. “He found you in one piece. That says enough.”

I nodded stiffly, still unsure what enough meant in Coban’s world.

Because it never really felt like enough with him.

I’d just broken another one of his demands… clearly putting my hunger above my sanity!

Even if Leo had covered for me… it was only a matter of time before Coban circled back to it…