Chapter 30 - Bella Margot's POV " It's so confusing , you know? One second he's actually pretty decent and then the next , I'm trembling , terrified of him . " I tell my friend , as both men now ran side by side on the treadmills - laughing together as I took note that this had been the most I'd seen Coban actually smile since meeting him . Obviously they were good friends , maybe even in the same dark criminal gang on the outside ? It would make sense ... " So is that all ? Don't tell me there's more? " Cara reaches out to take my hand , offering it a squeeze as I smile at her before pulling it away . I was conscious of how it looked , her holding my hand like that , Coban might see and think that I'm playing the pity party to my friend - because I suppose that's exactly what I was doing . I needed Cara to console me , to tell me I wasn't going mad and that everything was alright ... it was the only way I'd get through this ! " There's way more ... " I began , taking another deep breath to recite more of the never ending list . " On the way to breakfast , I was too busy trying to find you amongst the crowds , that I lost Coban . When I finally got to the cafeteria , I had to stand around like an idiot by myself until someone found me . Long story short , a guy named Jay approached me and was just acting like a total creep ... but Coban got there on time and threatened him to stay away from me before anything happened . " I offload , as Cara covers her mouth with her hand in shock . - " Woah ! You've really been through it Margot - what the fuck ! " Cara squints in disbelief , as I pinch my nose . I wasn't even close to being done yet ... ' Coban was obviously then furious that I had gotten myself lost , and warned me not to let it happen again ... but then ... " I trail off , remembering back to the deal he made me , vowing to keep me safe in here . ' But then what ?! " Cara pushes on , desperate to know the rest , evidently engrossed in all of my drama that had happened over the last fifteen hours or so . " He offered me a deal ... that he would keep me safe whilst I'm in here , in return for helping him get his freedom . He said that as long as I'm in here , that I belong to him , and so he won't let anybody else touch me . " I say it out loud , cringing slightly at the way it sounded like some twisted romance novel . " That's sort of ... nice of him though , right ? " Cara tilts her head and says , as I rub the back of my neck awkwardly and nod . " Yeah , believe me when I say that I was quickly grateful for the protection when a guy shoved me on my 1/4 Chapter 30 - Bella ass on the way here ... " I begin the next part , as Cara screeches in horror . " SHUT UP! THAT TOO ?! " She bellows , as I hiss at my friend to be quiet . " Remember he's right over there ! " I scold her , as Cara slaps her hands across her own mouth and nods . I glance over , seeing that their sprint had dropped down to a fast paced power walk now , as they remained engrossed in their own conversations too much to care about us ... phew ! " Yeah so , some random prisoner shoved me in the hallway on the way here because I bumped him slightly . I ended up on my ass and Coban went ballistic . Had the guy held up against the wall in two seconds flat by the throat . He nearly crushed his airflow . I've never seen someone react so fast either ... " I whisper , as Cara leans in closer to hear me . Cara's eyes grew and grew with each passing word and I didn't blame her ... " Then what happened ?! " She whispered back . Then the guards came , " I added . " One of them asked if Coban had hurt me and so I had to defend him . Told them it wasn't his fault , that he was only protecting me . " Cara blinked . " So , like ... he actually followed his deal though and protected you ? Sure he's terrifying Margot , but that's kinda cute that he's willing to keep you safe ... " Cara states her opinion as my jaw drops . " Cute ? No. Cara he's crazy ! He didn't do it for me , not really . It's part of the deal , remember ? If I stay alive and intact , give him a good word , then he gets out of here . That's the only reason . " I fold my arms , nodding at my own theory . Cara smirked . " Still . You have to at least admit that he's hot . " I groaned . " You're impossible . " She nudged me with her elbow , grinning . " You know what this means though , right ? If our prisoners are friends ... then maybe we'll get to see each other every day . " ' I sure hope so ! " I breathed out , knowing it would be the only thing keeping me sane . Just as I was about to say more , movement in the corner of my eye made me turn . The treadmills had now slowed to a stop , and the rhythmic pounding of feet ceased . Both men stepped off in sync , chests heaving , shirts clinging to their sweat - slicked bodies in a way that made it impossible not to notice how cut they both were . " Honestly though ... ignoring that they are criminals ... they are totally our types ! " Cara nudges me to say again as I hush her . Coban reached for a towel , dragging it across the back of his neck and shoulders , then down his arms . His 2/4 3:18 pm P DD Chapter 30 - Bella tattoos stood out even darker against the glisten of sweat , veins bulging along his forearms as he wiped them down . Beside him , Luca did the same , tossing his towel over his shoulder like he'd just strolled out of a gym locker room instead of a prison . Their eyes flicked in our direction . Cara straightened in her seat so fast it looked like she'd been zapped by electricity , and I felt my own spine go ramrod straight . A thick , pulsing silence set between us as they crossed the floor toward us with the slow , casual power of men who'd never had to chase anything in their lives .... " Shit , " Cara muttered under her breath , leaning slightly toward me . " Okay , I know I've been acting all chill , but I'm actually , like , really nervous . " She finally admits . I didn't have time to reassure her , because the next second , the two men stopped right in front of us and dropped onto the sofa opposite . Luca leaned back , legs spread , arm draped across the seat like he owned the place . Coban was more rigid , his forearms resting on his knees , head slightly tilted , those dark , unreadable eyes boring straight into me . " You two are friends then ? " Luca asked , his voice smoother than I expected - low , charming , with a hint of mischief laced through it . " Yeah , we came here together , " Cara answered quickly , forcing a bright smile , even as her foot tapped nervously beside mine . Luca chuckled , clearly amused . " Lucky . Coban and I go way back too , don't we , Santo ? " Coban didn't look away from me . " Mhm . " He hummed . That was it . Just a hum of confirmation . But it landed like a bullet . That name Santo - rippled through me , unfamiliar and yet intimate . - " So ... " Luca's gaze slid from Cara to me , his eyes sharp and curious . " Tell me all about your little friend , Cara . What's her name ? " But before Cara could even take a breath , Coban cut in like a knife . " Bella . " He stated with a swift wink directed right at me . The name wrapped around me like a chain . My lungs stalled . Did he just wink at me ?!