Margot's POV The man fucking winked at me ! Subtle . Quick . Barely there . But it was real enough that only I was the one who caught it ... It was like he knew exactly what he was doing - how that one small gesture could rip the breath from my lungs and make my heart do stupid flips that it seriously had no business doing . Bella ... I still had no idea what it meant either . Bella ... Cara turned to me , visibly confused . " Her name's Margot ... Margot Belle , " she clarified , voice hesitant now . Luca's smirk widened as his eyes darted between us . " Ahhh , I see . So you've given her a little Italian nickname already , Santo ? " He points out , as I feel Cara smiling from beside me next as though it was just some sweet gesture . Wrong . Little did she know , that he had ripped me a new one on my real name , before deciding just to change it completely to suit him . " Bella ... ? " Luca goes on , evidently wanting a reaction from him that he hadn't yet given , as Coban rubs his hands down his face roughly . Coban groaned , tipping his head back . " Fuck off , Luca . " I flinched slightly , the tension in his tone knotting up inside me . My body went rigid , suddenly terrified that this might be where everything exploded . That maybe they'd fight over this . That Coban could snap and turn on him like he had done earlier in the hallway ... I would hate for them to fight over something as silly as him giving me a pet name , since it didn't actually matter in the grand scheme of things . 1/4 3:18 pm Chapter 31 - The Surface He could call me whatever he liked , if it kept him at bay . But Luca just shockingly laughed him off , waving off the threat like it was a running joke between them . " Relax . I'm only saying it's cute of you . Isn't it , Margot ? Nicknaming you his Bella . " Luca suddenly turns to me . I swallowed hard , trying to find my voice . What do I even say ?! " Uh ... sure , I guess so ? " I managed , though I didn't sound convincing even to myself . I looked at Coban , who now rubbed a hand across his jaw , clearly annoyed at being teased by his buddy , but not ... furious about it either . Not dangerous . Just irritated in a very human , very male way that helped put me at slight ease . " So what did you two do before this shit ? " Luca asked , being the conversationalist. " Before you were recruited into this twisted little project ? " Cara perked up , clearly glad to be asked something normal after all of that ... " We were students . Both of us . Just finished school in June . We felt stuck in our home town so wanted to get out . " Cara takes the stage , and I was glad , like Luca , that she was the more chatty one of us both . They could work well together in this ... " So that makes you two what then ? Eighteen ? I thought you were both at least twenty - one . Didn't you , Santo ? Think they were a bit older ? " Luca states , shocked to discover the fact . " Shouldn't be in here that young , are the pair of you lacking brain cells or what ? " Coban questions , obviously more directed at me as I just shrug . I had already told him that we needed the money , I don't know what else he wanted me to say ? " Now , now , bro . Give them a chance . They've came here to keep us company . We can make this fun . " Luca states , grinning as Cara agrees with him . " What age are you both anyhow ? We were worried we would be landed with some old men weren't we Margot ! " Cara chimes in with an awkward laugh , and I could tell she was trying her best to prove to them both that we weren't all bad ... But it should be them proving that to us ... " Both twenty - five . " Luca states , as Coban nods beside him , turning to glance out of the window . " You two are pretty lucky to have us , you know ? There are a few bastards who made it on to this project ... " Luca eyes around the room , separating himself and Coban from the rest of the inmates as though they 2/4 3:18 pm P DD Chapter 31 - The Surface were both somehow better . " Yeah ! Ha ! I guess we are ! " Cara tries , as I shift uncomfortably , not enjoying Coban's silent intensity . " Bet they just thought they could throw you two in here with us animals and you'd get eaten alive . " Luca smirks , a wicked look in his eye , one that showed a dangerous side hiding beneath his friendly demeanour . " Still time for that , " Coban muttered after him , almost to himself but we all heard it . Luca just laughed again , finding him funny . " You're in one of your moods , I see . Ignore him , Margot , he's a big softy at heart ! " Luca claims , as my brows furrow against their own will . A big softy ? I'll crack the jokes here ! As if ! " I'm always in a mood , " Coban replied , settling back slightly before stretching his arms out . How come you picked grey anyhow ? Unlike this bright one beside you ? " Luca pondered suddenly , motioning towards Cara , as my mouth fell open and Coban met my gaze . What do I say to his friend ? That he forced me to change from my original pink to a boring grey ? That he didn't want me to embarrass him with my colour choice ? " I made her swap . " Coban thankfully responded for me , eyeing his friend who suddenly bust out laughing . " Seriously ? What for ? They all wear them ! " Luca shook his head , pushing him for an explanation , as I feared Coban would eventually snap and end him all together . " She chose pink - and I wasn't parading around here with a short little blonde dressed in pink , she was fucking asking for trouble ! " Coban began , suddenly confident in his decision . " But maybe that's what she wants ? Maybe she enjoys the other prisoners giving her grief ? Maybe I don't need to protect her in here because she likes it ? " Coban starts rambling , his tone never changing but the words making me shiver . He's pissed off at me again ... but what did I do this time ? I've barely spoke ! " No ... " I hear Cara's voice come out from beside me , and I instantly wished that I hadn't . Why the hell did she have to try to defend me against him of all people ?! It just wasn't worth it ! " What did you say ? " Coban leans forward suddenly , eyes now fully set on Cara as I began to panic for her . " She didn't mean anything by it . " I attempt , before his hand shoots up to silence me . " I wasn't asking you . " He states , as my lips slam shut , praying for Luca to step in to help Cara , but he just remains as he is comfortable and stretched out . - 3/4 3:18 pm P Chapter 31 The Surface " Oh , no , uhh , forgive me , I just wanted to say that Margot isn't like that . She hates drawing attention to herself . I'm the one who suggested she went for the pink because it's her favourite colour . In fact , I'm the one that suggested that we even sign up to this project in the first place she didn't come here for anything else . " Cara speaks up , clearing her throat , as I couldn't help but feel somewhat proud of her for trying to defend me . " Oh is that so my little rebel ? This was all your idea , was it ? Luca chuckles , as Coban seems to sit back , surprisingly not responding as of yet . Unlike the rest of us , Luca was clearly used to Coban , and I couldn't help but think back to the way he had been chatting , smiling and laughing during their workout together . Something tells me that Coban Santorelli had more layers to him , and that I had only so far began to scratch the surface ... Chapter Comments \ R Visitor 7 days ago Are we repeating chapters now ?? 11 < SHARE 1 Reviews > 01 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!