The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Coban’s POV

When she asked about Cara sleeping on the bed, I barely reacted.

That alone should’ve told her something.

I glanced at Leo, shrugged once like it didn’t matter either way. Truth was, I had bigger demons clawing at me right now than arguing with Cara over a

mattress.

‘I’ll take her back to the room, grab her stuff, then drop her to you,” I said, already pushing my chair back and motioning for Margot to come with me.

Margot blinked up at me, surprised, but she stood immediately when I’d said it.

Good girl.

Leo nodded easily. “Sure.”

な

I caught the way he leaned in toward Cara, lowering his voice, the way she giggled and tucked closer to him like she belonged there. They were giddy together, as if Leo had never spent a minute with a girl in his entire life before, but I knew it was good for him. Good for us both right now.

If anything, I was relieved we had them here now.

Leo and Cara, those two worked. They balanced each other, and me being paired with my Bella instead of some desperate whore wanting a bad boy dating experience? She had been the perfect fit for me.

Even better that those two were friends and so were Leo and I…

But still… a small part of me wondered.

Had they done it deliberately? What were the chances of it happening this way? So… easy?

Put the four of us together like pieces on a chess board? Two sets of friends paired up?

But if they had meant it, then what were they trying to prove?

‘Coban?”

Margot’s voice snapped me out of it as we walked, nearing our block.

“Hm?” I hummed, eyes forward, already scanning the corridor and eyeing up every guard on the way.

“I was saying… it was good of you to agree to Cara sleeping on the bed,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

I glanced down at her.

She was smiling.

That look, the one that said she thought this was growth. That I was changing. Becoming something better.

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Chapter 166

I didn’t deserve the credit.

I just respect Leo,” I said instead.

Not a lie.

Just not the whole truth either.

She nodded like she accepted it, then added quietly, “Well… it was still good of you.”

Something in my chest twisted at that.

I’d do anything to avoid her looking at me with disappointment, that was the real reason I’d folded to her request… but she wouldn’t have to know that.

We stepped into the cell, the door clanging shut behind us. The quiet space slapping us immediately.

“Grab what you need for tonight,” I said, shrugging out of my sweatshirt. “You want to take the second heat patch with you too?”

She thought for a second. “Yeah… just in case… and uh, could I have two more painkillers just now?”

I was already reaching for them before she finished asking.

I popped them free from the packet and handed them over without a word. She cracked open her water bottle from the canteen and swallowed them, watching me over the rim like she wasn’t entirely sure what version of me she was dealing with today.

“Let me freshen up,” she said. “I’ll be two minutes.”

I nodded, sinking down onto the edge of the bed as she disappeared into the bathroom.

The second the door shut, irritation surged back through me like a returning tide.

Another night.

Another handoff to Leo.

Another stretch of time where she wasn’t where I could see her.

I clenched my jaw, staring at the wall.

This challenge was bullshit.

Twelve inmates already gone.

All because they couldn’t control themselves.

I would’ve been one of them too, if I hadn’t forced my hand. If I hadn’t moved fast. If I hadn’t played the game with the suits.

But it still didn’t make it much easier.

The bathroom door opened again and Margot stepped out, carrying a handful of feminine products. She crossed the room and dropped them into the spare

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Chapter 166

cardboard box in the corner.

R

Casual.

Unembarrassed.

Still trusting me.

“So, I said, breaking the silence.

She turned toward me, expectant.

“What got you two so rattled after seeing Sarah?”

Her shoulders tensed just a little at the question.

I caught it.

“I could tell something was bothering you,” I continued calmly. More than just seeing her.”

She hesitated.

“That’s not all,” I added, lifting my chin slightly. “Come here.”

She obeyed without question, stepping closer until I could reach her. I caught her waist and pulled her down onto my knee, my grip firm but careful as my

arm snaked around her waist.

She shifted to get comfortable, pushing a mess

of

blonde hair back from her face.

“Sarah said something,” she said slowly. “And it… made things awkward.”

I stayed quiet, letting her fill the space.

“She said she wished Newman was dead.”

My brows lifted.

Ah.

That explained everything.

“I see,” I said evenly. “So did you tell her the truth?”

She chewed her lip.

I lifted my thumb and pulled it free from her teeth before she could break the skin. I hated that habit.

‘Well, yeah, we felt we had to,” she whispered.

1 nodded once.

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Chapter 166

Of course they did.

And how did she take it?‘ I pressed further, watching her breathe steadily.

Her eyes searched mine. She was shocked. Wanted to know what happened. We told her we do in’t really know

Good.

Cara had kept her mouth shut too.

Margot still didn’t suspect that I’d killed him.

Because I don’t think she’d be sat here so comfortably with me right now if she did…

“She was also… a little relieved about it,” Margot added.

I exhaled slowly. She would be. Knowing he’ll never come for her again.”

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