The Prison Project Chapter 47 - Mind Reader Margot's POV The sounds were low at first - mutters , curses , the occasional shuffle of fabric . The kind of background noise you could almost mistake for something mundane if you didn't know better . But I knew better . Their backs were to me , wide and blocking most of my view , but even with the book still clutched in my lap , tilted just enough to keep up appearances , I could tell something was being divided . Small items . Quick movements . Bags - plastic ones - rustling with urgency . Montel's voice broke through the silence first after a few minutes . " Who needs it today ? I'll do the rounds . " Çoban didn't look at him right away . He seemed distracted - like he was doing calculations in his head . " I'll write a list , " he said finally , his voice as level as ever . " Don't give without cash , you know the drill . " But then he suddenly turned . - And his eyes landed directly on me . Shit . The contact was brief - only a few seconds - but I felt the force of it like a slap to the face . His brows pulled slightly inward . Not angry . Not yet . But assessing . Displeased to have caught me ogling the pair . He didn't speak . Instead , he lifted two fingers and flicked them downward - a silent command . Eyes . Down . I snapped my gaze back to the book so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash . My heart slammed into my ribs over and over again . I couldn't remember what it felt like to have a resting heart rate anymore ... How long did he think I'd been watching them ? Could I pass it off as just a quick glance up ? Nah ... he knew ... he always knew ... He hadn't yelled at me though . Hadn't made a scene . But that motion , that glare , was sharper than any other threat he could have gave me . 1/4 3:23 pm P & DD . Chapter 47 - Mind Reader Because it said one thing very clearly : I saw you . Don't make me say it again . I blinked rapidly , pretending to read as if I could somehow erase the moment . But the words on the page swam in front of my eyes . The vampire , the thunderstorm , the hidden truth it was all gone . Erased by the anxiety coiled tight in my gut like a snake trapped under my flesh . 1 The room continued to move around me . Montel said something I didn't catch . Coban replied in low , hushed tones . A drawer opened , then shut . Something was zipped . Passed between hands . I didn't dare look up . Whatever this exchange was , it wasn't for me to know . That much was obvious . And I wasn't stupid enough to test my luck with him again . Montel stayed in the room for maybe thirty minutes total ? Thirty long , uncomfortable minutes of pretending to read , of counting words , of wondering what the hell they were dealing with - and how dangerous it actually was . Eventually , I heard Montel give a short grunt , followed by Coban's muttered reply . " See you later . " The door clicked shut . But I still didn't look up . I didn't dare . Not until Coban spoke - his voice suddenly clear , cutting through the silence like a blade dipped in sarcasm . " I know you haven't been reading that same page over and over again for thirty minutes , " he drawled , his tone mocking . My stomach clenched . " Maybe try turning the page every once in a while next time , " he added . " Might make your snooping a little more convincing , Bella . " Busted by him again . I was caught . He could see right through the facade . I let out a long sigh , lowering the book slowly as I admitted , " I know ... you're right . I'm sorry . " The apology fell out of me without defense - raw , honest , tired now . To my surprise , he didn't mock me for it , or become angry either . 2/4 3:23 pm P DD . Chapter 47 - Mind Reader He actually chuckled - low and amused as he stepped across the room , shaking his head like I was a mildly annoying pet who'd finally learned a new trick . " See ? " he said . " You've learned to stop lying to me already . " He sounded almost proud . I didn't know how to feel about that . I chewed on the inside of my lip , trying to decipher what this new tone meant . If it was another mind game , or if somehow - I'd actually managed to please him a little . Not by pretending or obeying , but by simply fessing up and telling the truth . By giving up the act ... Maybe it made me predictable . Or maybe it made me safer ? I folded the corner of the page - not that I needed a marker , I hadn't moved from that damn paragraph in ages and set the book down carefully on the desk . My fingertips lingered on the cover for a second too long . - I missed the escape already . Coban sat back on the bed , watching me . There was a flicker of something different in his gaze now . Still guarded . Still dangerous . But also ... calculating . " Curiosity's a risky habit in a place like this , " he said finally , as if warning me . " Gets people in trouble . " I nodded , slowly . " I understand . " He tilted his head , studying me again - like he was still figuring out what I was made of . " Do you ? " I hesitated . " I'm learning ... it's all just so new to me . " I whispered back . That seemed to amuse him again , because the smallest smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth . Then he leaned back against the mattress , arms folded behind his head like a king returned to his throne , " You stare too often , " he said . " You watch too much . Think too much . You don't want to be the kind of girl who gets noticed for doing that around here . " - I bristled at that not because he was wrong , but because of how right he was . Still , I couldn't help myself . 3/4 3:23 pm P DD Chapter 47 - Mind Reader " The laundry . " I reminded him gently , seeing his eyes close over and suddenly worrying that he had forgot . Or maybe it was because I was actually really hungry for once ? Counting down the damn seconds before we could go eat something again ! " Someone's really hungry then ? Because I know you don't give a shit about that laundry . " Coban stated , and I suddenly began to panic as though the man could literally see right in to my brain . Was I that obvious all the time ? Or was he just incredibly smart and good at reading people ?! " Ahhh ... come on then , Bella , let's go sort it out . " He groaned , since I didn't come up with a response quick enough for him , as he forced himself back up on to his feet - glancing at me to do the same . Which I did . " How do you do that ? " I whisper , following him out of the room and towards the laundry door . My soft voice caused for him to slow his steps , allowing me to catch up enough so that he could see me beside him . " What ? " He asked quickly , almost impatiently . " Read my thoughts ? You do it a lot ?! " I explain , as his eyes squint to see whether or not I was trying to be funny . But I wasn't . I seriously couldn't wrap my head around the talent . " I can see right through people ... in my line of business outside of here , you have to , or you won't survive . " He nodded once , before turning to push open the laundry room door - taking us both inside . He has to ? To survive ? Chapter Comments 5 Write Comments < SHARE