He had an aura about him that could make anybody within his vicinity crumble…

“I don’t want to upset you…” I attempted to reason, as he began tough.

“I told you, follow my rules, you’ll make it.” He shrugged, as I squinted at him.

I didn’t even know what his damn rules were, other than number one: don’t lie and number two: don’t get lost!

“Look, if anyone bar me touches you in here, then you can let me know, and I’ll handle it. I don’t care if it’s a girl, a guard, or the fucking wind.” His voice dipped low, dangerous. “For the meantime, you belong to me, and In return for keeping you safe, you’ll make sure that I can get the fuck out of here, is that a deal?”

I hesitated, taken aback by the sudden offer, somewhat thankful for it but knowing that he wasn’t doing this for me, he was only doing this for himself. “Okay.”

Coban didn’t speak again. He just sat there for a few more seconds before shoving the rest of his eggs up into his mouth like the conversation hadn’t even happened.

A loud buzzer sounded.

Time was up.

Without another word, Coban stood, snatching both trays and stacking them like it was second nature. I hurried to my feet too, nerves prickling beneath my skin again as the guards began shouting for our group to move on.

“Stay behind me,” he muttered, not looking back.

So I did.

Even if I wasn’t sure whether his deal to keep me safe was a blessing… or the start of something far worse.

Chapter 28 – Push & Shove

Margot’s POV

The halls were buzzing again.

As Coban led me away from the dining hall, the sheer size of the facility began to truly sink in. There were corridors that bent and split in every direction, signs I couldn’t read fast enough, and clumps of people peeling off from the stream – each pair seemingly heading off to some new destination.

It was like a strange migration.

Some headed through doors marked with symbols, others disappeared down stairwells, and some simply lingered in corners, whispering. Everyone moved like they knew where they were going. Everyone except me.

I stayed close to Coban’s back, trying not to lose him again. His shoulders were tense, his steps fast, and I had to jog asionally just to keep up.

We passed several guards

–

some with bored expressions, others with eyes sharp as razors. No one stopped us. No one questioned anything. I guessed that was the benefit of being with someone like Coban. He carried an unspoken threat in every step.

I was so focused on keeping up, and scanning for any glimpse of Cara, that I didn’t see the dangering.

A hard wall of muscle mmed into me from the side.

The air whooshed out of my lungs as I stumbled sideways only slightly, before hands came next; “Watch where you’re fucking going bitch!”

Shove.

I suddenly shrieked,nding hard on the cold tile. Pain jolted through my hip and palms as my skin scraped against the floor.

“What the- I began, confused as to what had happened tond me here.

A hand. No, a shove unmistakable and deliberate,

I gasped in shock, looking up to find the culprit, and then everything happened al at once- right before my very eyes.

Coban rushed in.

I barely had time to register his movement before he was across the hall. Like a weapon unholstered.

The man who had shoved me didn’t even get a second to react before Coban had him pinned against the wall, his forearm jammed brutally across the guy’s neck as he started to cough and splutter beneath him.

I heard the thud of bone against concrete.

The man’s boots scraped against the ground as he struggled, his mouth open in panic as he wed at Coban’s arm, trying to breathe.

“Don’t you fucking touch her!” Coban snarled, eyes zing, every line of his body tight with fury. “You think I won’t put you through this wall, motherfucker?!”

“I–I didn’t know she was yours!” the man choked out, face turning red, veins bulging. “I didn’t know, man!”

“Coban!” I cried, voice cracking, unsure if I was trying to calm him or warn him.

“I’m so sorry,” a girl rushed to my side quickly as she nervously started trying to help me up to my feet. “This is the first I’ve seen himsh out, I swear. He’s been ok so far!”

His assigned female.

By now, guards were moving in fast.

Boots thundered down the corridor. One of them barked, “Step back from him, Santorelli!”

But Coban didn’t move, desperate to choke the guy outpletely.

Another was already beside me, crouching down, his gaze flicking from my stunned expression to the red mark forming on my wrist where I’d hit the floor.

“You alright? Did he do this to you?” the guard asked, nodding toward Coban.

“No!” I answered fast, shaking my head. “It wasn’t him just… protecting me, I guess?”

–

The guard’s eyes narrowed, but he gave a small nod before turning to the pinned man.

“Get him out of here.” He pointed, as two guards peeled Coban off of him before the others stepped in to remove the man from the corridor swiftly.

Coban stood back panting like an animal just barely restrained, his fists still clenched at his sides.

Then his gaze snapped towards me.

He reached out and grabbed my wrist – not painfully, but firm enough to send a jolt through my already shaken up body. I didn’t resist. I just moved my feet to keep up, stumbling beside him as he stormed off down another corridor.

He didn’t exin. He didn’t look at me.

We took a sharp turn. Then another. Before a pair of ss sliding doors opened automatically in front of us with a whoosh. Behind themy a surprisingly quiet, open room. The air here was cooler, calmer. A gym of sorts – rows of machines, punching bags, weights stacked in metal racks and so far, there was only one other guy in here with a female stood close to him.

The previous tension from outside was seemingly held at bay as the doors closed over behind us – locking the whole ordeal outside as though it was nothing more than a made up memory.

The only sounds were that of the air vents along with the giggles of the other girl who seemed overly amused by something her inmate had said…

It was weird seeing how different each couple were… and I couldn’t begin to ce my own dynamic with Coban. If I had to give it one word, then I’d say he’s been fair with me so far.

Other than the whole sleeping on the floor thing, but I’ll admit that I would’ve mostly panicked if it had gone the opposite way – with him demanding that I sleep in the bed with him.

I swallowed at the thought of sleeping next to Coban in only his boxer shorts, shaking my head to prevent the embarrassment from settling in.

But it was either that, or dealing with horrendous body aches every day from sleeping on the floor…

“Go sit over there and wait for me to be done in here,” he growled, voice thick with frustration. He jerked his head toward a lounge area in the corner – ck sofas, a scratched–up coffee table, and barred floor–to- ceiling windows that offered a bleak glimpse of the outside world.

I blinked, still catching my breath, unsure why I was the one being barked at now.

“I didn’t do anything,” I muttered under my breath, as I turned and walked, thankful that he must not have heard the remark.