The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 91

Margot’s POV

For a second, I thought I’d imagined it.

His voice was rough and almost strangled.

It didn’t even sound like a compliment the way it had been forced out past his teeth.

Did he even mean it? Or did he feel bad for how hostile he had been towards me the second I had got back?

Maybe…

But it was rare for Coban to feel bad about anything…

Your hair looks good.” Was his words, as I stared back at him, slightly stunned.

The shock of it hit me before anything else.

My cheeks betrayed me instantly, heating under his stare, flushing pink until I was sure he’d notice.

Compliments weren’t something I ever got anywhere unless it was from Cara who had made it her life mission to pick me up whenever I was down.

But yet here I was, with my inmate Coban Santorelli, who of all people, wanted to tell me my hair looked nice all of a sudden?

“Thank you…” I whispered out, my voice softer than I wanted it to be, like I didn’t want the air around us to shatter.

His dark eyes locked onto mine, heavy and unpredictable.

For once, he didn’t immediately turn away, didn’t follow it with another sharp order or correction. He just looked. Like he was trying to read me, trying to decide what I was to him in this moment – a burden, a weakness, or… something else?

But I couldn’t be something else… not to him.

I was nothing more than his one way ticket out of here…

His little project to focus on until he is set free….

His distraction…

Because I knew deep down, outside of these walls, I wouldn’t stand a chance beside a man like him.

I cleared my throat a little, and that was when he next spoke…

“So your Saturday was pretty fucking good then?” His voice cut through my thoughts, rough but steady, as if he already knew the answer.

Of course he knew that my day was good compared to his! My little retreat being spoiled and pampered for free while he was stuck here? It almost felt like a cruel joke that was being played on the men…

But I hummed at the thought…

“Words Bella? I’m trying to talk to you!” Coban demanded, as my eyes widened slightly, followed by a little nod.

“It… uh… it was nice, yes, but I’m glad to be back here – to get some rest.” I mumbled, adding a yawn for emphasis of how tired I actually felt.

And it was true.

It had been a long day and I wanted nothing more than to crawl in to the bed and catch some sleep.

He scoffed, a sound that rattled my chest more than it should have. “And here you are now, after your nice little day out, trapped right back here, in this cell, with me… daring to survive another week?”

The words stung. Not because they were cruel, but because they were true.

I was trapped again.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding, my shoulders sagging. “Yes,” I whispered. “I am. But I don’t think it’s all bad in here, with you.”

That seemed to shock him, as I noticed his brows raise ever so slightly and the way his arm muscles twitched at my words…

Silence fell between us again, as it always did whenever he needed a moment to think or to assess me.

“I fear you are more stupid than I thought, Bella.” He drawled out slowly, his head shaking at an agonising pace followed by the clicking tut of his tongue.

I watched him move towards the bed, peeling the cover back before throwing himself down on top of the mattress and seeming to not leave much room on either side of him either…

Great.

I remained by the door, offering a small shrug, followed by a quick; “I think so…” I steadily admitted, deciding that I hadn’t even been here today to upset him.

This was all just a part of his mind games…

His way of always asserting his dominance and control…

I knew that now.

But I also knew that by having me sleep on the floor, it had been intended as a punishment, one in which I definitely didn’t earn today…

“Tell me why Bella.” He hummed out next, evidently amused by my response.

“Why what?” I breathed out the words, brows pulling together. slightly as my mind buzzed to always figure him out.

To which I never really could…

“Tell me why you deserve to sleep here, beside me.” He pushed on, arms lifting and reaching back to rest behind his head – exaggerating how comfy he now was.

“I’ve been good.”

The words escaped me on their own accord, as I watched the smirk tug up at his lips in approval as I swallowed back the lump of sudden humility…

Why the hell did I just say that to him?!

“Hm, very well Bella, come here…”

Oh lord…