The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 205

Margot’s POV

I could barely keep up with him.

Coban didn’t slow down once.

Not through the corridor.

Not past the guards.

Not even when the elevator doors opened and closed around us.

His grip on my hand was firm – unyielding – as he pulled me along as his shadow, his jaw still tight, his breathing heavy, his entire body humming with the aftermath of what had just happened back there.

And me?

I was still trying to catch up with it all…

Not just physically…

But mentally too!

Because that entire thing had been insane…

The argument.

The slap.

The tension.

The way the entire room had frozen and watched…

The way he hadn’t hesitated either, even with the watching staff…

My heart was still racing, adrenaline buzzing through my veins like electricity, making my hands feel slightly shaky as I stumbled slightly to match his pace.

But I didn’t pull away.

Didn’t ask him to slow down.

Because I knew that right now, he just needed to get out of there just as much as I did until eventually, we reached the cell…

The cell door opened, and the second we stepped inside, It was shut behind us with a heavy click.

Sealing us in.

Away from everyone else.

Away from her.

Away from the chaos.

And just like that, he finally stopped.

Turning toward me so fast I barely had time to react before his arms wrapped around me, pulling me straight into his chest.

Firm.

Protective.

Claiming me as his.

“I shouldn’t have made you stand through that,” he muttered into my hair, his voice still edged with anger but different now wh

Less explosive.

More controlled.

“She’s a nasty little bitch.” He added quickly.

His arms tightened slightly around me, like he was grounding himself through the contact.

Like he needed to feel me there.

Safe with him again.

I exhaled slowly against him, my hands instinctively coming up to rest against his chest.

“I-I’m fine…” I said softly, even though my body was still buzzing.

But I wasn’t scared.

Not of him.

Not of what he’d done.

If anything…

I felt… more protected.

“I don’t think Addison will be though,” I added, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

There was a beat of silence.

Then…

A low snigger rumbled from his chest.

And just like that…

Some of the tension cracked.

I couldn’t help it.

A small smile tugged at my lips, pressing lightly into him as the absurdity of it all settled in.

God…

We were insane.

Completely.

“She deserved worse than that you know,” Coban muttered, pulling back just enough to look down at me now.

His eyes still dark.

Still burning with fury.

“That was just a warm-up.” My smile faltered slightly at hearing that.

“I’ll fucking end her,” he added, like it was nothing.

Like it was a fact…

Not a threat…

Causing my stomach to tighten.

Oke to me.

Because I believed him…

Just… thinking.

Before his hand slid from my hair to my jaw, holding it gently.

“For you?” he said lowly. “I’ll deal with whatever bullshit comes my way, it’s not for you to stress over, alright?” He murmured, and my breathing hitched at that.

“Let me take care of things,” he demanded, still holding my face softly, his fingers careful of my wounds.

“You can’t keep doing that,” I whispered…

“Doing what?” He hummed, his eyes lost in mine.

“Reacting like that every time something happens,” I said softly. “You could lose everything… including your freedom.”

But his gaze still didn’t waver from mine.

“Everything means nothing if something happens to you. I won’t stand for the disrespect of what’s mine.” He confirmed, and if he wasn’t holding me upright, then I very well could have collapsed with that.

I swallowed hard.

Because what was I supposed to say to that?

That he was wrong?

That I didn’t matter that much?

When clearly…

To him….

I did.

Which was something I’d secretly wished for this entire time… to matter to Coban Santorelli.

Slowly, I reached up, resting my hand over his where it still held my face.

“I’m okay.” I said gently. “You don’t need to destroy people for me.”

A small pause.

“But Bella, what if I want to?”

I let out a soft breath, shaking my head slightly, but a small smile crept in anyway.

“You’re impossible.” I sighed, as he smirked again that dangerous smirk that could force anyone to go weak at the knees.

“You knew that already,” he shot back quietly.

That made me laugh as the storm inside the room settled again…

Not gone entirely, since it was never fully gone with Coban, but it was peaceful enough for me.

His forehead dipped to mine again, his breathing finally starting to even out.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured.

“Adrenaline, I think?” I replied as he hummed in agreement.

His arms wrapped around me again, steadying me, “I’ve got you now, no more bullshit.” he added quietly.

And as I stood there, wrapped up in him, I realised that in my eyes… this man could do no wrong…