The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Margot’s POV

Sleep came in broken pieces.

93

fio dreams – just stretches of black nothingness interrupted by the sound of doors clanging, distant shouting, Leo shifting in his sleep, my

own thoughts looping like a scratched record.

Coban’s silence replayed the most…

By the time the lights flicked on, harsh and unforgiving, my head already hurt.

Morning routine,

Another basic day.

Like nothing had happened last night…

Like I hadn’t cried myself raw on a bathroom floor….

I rolled onto my side and stared at the concrete wall for a moment, grounding myself. My eyes were swollen, my chest still sore in that bruised way emotions leave behind.

I climbed out and took myself to the bathroom, as Leo groaned and began to stir.

I scrubbed my face with cold water, tied my hair back tighter than usual, and avoided my reflection as much as possible today.

I didn’t want to see her.

The girl who’d hoped,

The girl who’d asked too much.

When I came out, Leo was waiting by the door like he always did, offering me a careful smile that asked are you okay? without saying the

words.

“I’m fine,” I said before he could ask.

He didn’t argue, just nodded and went in to sort himself out.

Breakfast was quiet.

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9:41 Tue, Jan 6

Chapter 169

Too lit

The eastern inled almuet vit conpast so pestety

Twatu mm gros aiready. I entered to many of them had dat soar the

Les grabbed as trays and the into the sear acavey from me

You sleep at all he asked casually

A bit, I lied, pushing eggs around my plate

I couldn’t ignore the recent i could feel building towards Caban today!

After how he had totally iced me out. It was cruel. He wasn’t an idiot etter, he ter tow much I libet fim and

nothing:

Cara was stuck with him all night and this morning–lucky for her probably dealing with one of his sopa tands.

I was relieved that I wouldn’t have to see him this morning, at least not yet they’d be the rent reales de 3 en tedes

find us after that.

I sighed, and focused on chewing, Swallowing Breathing

Surviving

Halfway through breakfast, a guard stopped beside our table.

He didn’t look at me at first – just at Leo.

Mr. Santorelli has requested another private gym slot today,” he said flatly. He’s invited you both to justo him after resident

The words hit me harder than they should have.

My throat tightened instantly.

Of course he’d summoned us up to that damn gym again! Why was I even shocked!

My fork paused mid–aft

Leo glanced at me, brow lifting slightly, clearly gauging my reaction before answering “Trah cool”

The guard finally left, as Leo sighed heavily gaining my attention as sey eyes flicked towards bus

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9:41 Tue, Jan 6

Chapter 169

Maybe he’s slept on it? He will most likely know now that he was acting like a dick.” Leo deadpans, addressing my mood.

I swallowed and shrugged. “Maybe.” I state, but the word came out stiffer than I’d hoped.

1 couldn’t even disguise sounding pissed off now…

“At least you’ll get to see Cara? I can keep him distracted for a while, let him blow off some steam?”

He suggests, and I appreciated the help, but I just shrugged at him again..

I didn’t want to talk. Not about him.

Last night continued to slam back into me all at once – his silence, the way he’d walked ahead of me, the way he hadn’t answered when i needed him to, the way he’d handed me over to Leo and left as quickly as he could to get rid of me…

I didn’t want to see him at all today.

He knew he’d upset me, and yet he didn’t even stop to look back.

He left.

I didn’t want to pretend that everything was fine when it wasn’t.

“Come on then.” Leo stood, recognising that I wasn’t actually interested in finishing the food on my tray anyway. “He won’t be up there until after he’s ate so you’ll have a bit of peace to think before you see him – clear your head.”

“I don’t need to think.” I mutter, standing and grabbing my half finished bottle of water to take with me.

Leo ignored my mood, as he waited for me to fall into step beside him before we left the canteen.

I kept my gaze straight ahead, fingers curled tight around my water bottle, knuckles whitening with the pressure until we reached the

gym.

Perhaps my period wasn’t helping, but I couldn’t help but to display how irritated I felt today.

I could feel my forehead creasing down in to a deep set frown, and I didn’t care much to change it any time soon either!

Leo glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “You sure you’re okay to see him?” he asked quietly, “I can tell them you’re not feeling great? Period stuff, cramps or something? You could wait back at the cell? I don’t think he’ll handle you being short with him too well…” Leo tells me his truth as I scoff.

I shook my head, jaw tightening. “Oh but I’ve to handle how he treated me? No. I don’t want it to look like I’m avoiding him he did this,

not me.”

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