The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 208

Margot’s POV

I noticed them approaching before Cara did.

Of course I did.

It was like some invisible thread constantly tethered my attention to him now – no matter what I was doing, part of me always knew where Coban was.

And right now?

He was walking straight toward us.

Leo beside him, towel slung over his shoulder, both of them looking like they’d just finished pushing themselves to exhaustion.

Cara followed my gaze a second later.

“Oh good,” she muttered, sitting up straighter. “Perfect timing.”

I frowned slightly.

“…for what?”

But I already knew.

The second that look crossed her face…

Mischief.

Danger.

No filter.

Oh no…

“Don’t you dare-” I started, but it was already too late.

The boys reached us.

Leo dropped down onto the edge of the sofa first with a relaxed exhale, while Coban stayed standing for a second – his eyes flicking over me quickly, checking in, before finally sitting down beside me.

Close.

Always close now.

Then…

She struck.

“So, Leo,” she said suddenly, far too sweetly.

I froze.

Leo blinked at her, knowing himself something was coming…

“…why do I feel like I’m about to get interrogated?” Leo trailed off, before she cut in-

“Because you are,” she replied instantly. “Tell me everything you know about the nurse – Addison.”

Oh my god.

She did not just do that!

“Cara!” I hissed under my breath.

But too late.

Again.

Leo’s brows lifted slightly, glancing briefly at Coban before looking back at her.

“…what about her?” Leo mumbled, evidently uncomfortable now.

“What about her?!” Cara echoed, leaning forward. “She’s been running her mouth to Margot, that’s what about her. We can’t stand for that!”

Leo let out small breath through his nose.

“Yeah… sounds like her,” he muttered.

Cara narrowed her eyes at that. “Meaning?”

Leo shrugged. “She’s got a bit of a reputation around here,” he said casually. “Likes attention. Sleeps around. Gets too attached to the men in here when she obviously shouldn’t.”

My stomach twisted slightly at that, but before I could even process it, Cara gasped.

Loud.

Offended.

“Have you slept with her?!” she snapped, and Leo nearly choked on his water at the sudden accusation.

“What?! No!” He denied, but Cara was like a dog with a bone now…

“But you just said…” she began, before Leo was quicker this time.

“I said she sleeps around!” he cut in quickly, holding both hands up in surrender. “Not that I was involved in the sleeping!”

Cara leaned back slightly, crossing her arms.

“Hmm.” She huffed.

“Why the fuck does that ‘hmm’ feel judgmental,” Leo muttered back, growing irritated now and for once, I was glad that

“Because it is,” she shot back.

“I didn’t touch her!” he defended, half laughing now. “This is ridiculous – my standards are pretty high!”

“Oh, are they?!” Cara raised a brow.

“Yeah,” he smirked. “And you somehow made the cut.”

“Somehow?!” she snapped, grabbing a cushion and hitting him with it.

Leo laughed, catching it easily.

“Hey – violent already? Wait til we get back to the cell!” He teased, as Cara instantly turned red.

Their bickering escalated quickly, voices overlapping, playful but loud enough to draw a few glances from nearby inmates.

wasn’t Coban and I arguing…

And beside me, Coban huffed out a breath, not enjoying the topic revolving around Addison… who he had been one of the ones ‘sleeping around’ with her…

I glanced at him, “you good?” I found myself still asking.

Coban didn’t answer straight away.

For a second, I thought he might brush it off.

Make a joke.

Deflect like he usually would.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he leaned back slightly into the sofa, one arm resting behind me along the backrest, his jaw tightening just enough for me to notice.

“Yeah,” he muttered finally.

But it wasn’t convincing.

Not fully.

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