Chapter 33 - Boss Margot's POV I sat stiffly on the edge of the bed , hands clasped in my lap like I was waiting for a verdict . Every so often I'd glance at the bathroom door , still firmly shut , the sound of the water pattering against the tiles only making the silence more deafening . I couldn't shake the way his words had lodged inside me like tiny glass splinters . Pretty . He'd called me pretty ? Bella meant pretty ? And he'd said it like it was a fact , not a compliment . Like it was a problem to be managed . I don't think anybody had ever called me pretty throughout my entire life either , besides maybe Cara at some point or another ? But definitely never a guy ... I still didn't know what to do with that information or better yet , what else to say ... Trapped in my thoughts , I hadn't even heard the water shut off as the bathroom door finally creaked open , steam billowing out before Coban stepped through it , drying off his short dark hair with a towel . His expression was unreadable again - but something about the way his eyes flicked toward me said he knew exactly what mess he'd left me in . He wore black athletic shorts and a snug black tee that hugged the defined lines of his chest and arms , his tattoos crawling out from under the sleeves . " Let's go , " he muttered , jerking his chin toward the door as he tossed the damp towel into the growing laundry pile . I jumped up quickly , falling into step behind him as we slipped out into the corridor once more . " Where are we going now ? " I asked , my voice steadier than I had expected . " Outside for an hour , " he grunted over his shoulder . " Then it's laundry . " He didn't wait for my reply . Just moved forward with that same sure stride that I was beginning to recognise as part of him arrogant , and purposeful . Like someone who didn't have time to waste . This time he turned us down a different corridor to the one we'd taken earlier , and I found myself struggling to memorise the way . Left , right , then another left before going down some steps . The place was a goddamn maze ! 1/4 3:18 pm Chapter 33 Boss I followed closely , clutching the hem of my grey jumper nervously as we passed a few inmates with their partners . Some nodded at Coban as we went by . Others stared . But no one said a word to us . As we rounded a corner toward a metal security door , a tall female guard leaned against the wall just beside it , arms crossed and a smirk playing at her lips . " Behaving yourself , Coban ? " she called out , raising an eyebrow at him . He didn't miss a beat . " Trying . " She glanced at me after , eyes dragging from my head to my toes in a way that made me feel self - conscious . There was something sharper about it like she was assessing me . - " Your girl looks like she's surviving at least , " the guard said dryly . " That's more than I expected after a night with you . " " She's a quick learner , " Coban replied , his voice neutral but clipped , evidently not wanting to talk to her much . She eventually pressed the button beside the door , and it buzzed before unlocking with a heavy clunk to let us both pass . We stepped through it , into a wide courtyard surrounded by high walls topped with barbed wire . The air hit my skin like a welcome splash of cold water - it wasn't the freshest exactly , but it was still good . I drew in a slow breath , feeling the tension in my shoulders ease up just a little . It was the first time since we'd arrived that I didn't feel entirely suffocated . Coban led us toward a bench near the edge of the yard , away from the handful of other inmates milling about . He sat down heavily , stretching his arms out across the back of the bench and tilting his head back to watch the sky . I hovered nearby , unsure if I was supposed to sit beside him or just stand awkwardly in place . " Sit down , Bella , " he muttered without even having to look at me . And so I did . Closer to him than I had intended to be due to the small gap left for me on the first bench . And for a while , neither of us spoke . 2/4 Chapter 33 Boss There was something unspoken in the quiet - something almost peaceful , even if it was still laced with threat . I watched him from the corner of my eye , studying the sharp lines of his jaw , the crease between his brows , the way his foot bounced ever so slightly as if he was always ready to move , to fight , to flee . He hadn't said another word about what he'd told me earlier . About the name . About what he thought of me . But amongst it all , I was starting to understand something important about Coban Santorelli ... He didn't seem to say things unless he meant them . And that terrified me more than if he had lied . But peace in this place was fleeting . Growing voices broke through the calm - loud , obnoxious ones . " Yo , Coban ! " One yelled , as my eyes flicked toward the source . Sure enough , a group of five inmates were strutting across the yard like they owned it , laughter echoing between them . And among them , unmistakable even from a distance , was Luca . Grinning like the devil himself , charming and smooth , with a swagger that said he'd never once known fear . Trailing just behind the men were the girls too - including Cara , who caught my eye almost instantly . Her face lit up when she saw me again . She lifted her hand in a small wave , mouthing something I couldn't quite catch , but it made my chest swell with relief and joy again . - I went to stand , instinct kicking in before thought I wanted to go to her , but before I could even rise fully , a strong hand wrapped around my wrist and tugged me back down onto the bench . " You'll stay here with me ! " Coban muttered low under his breath , his tone possessive . I blinked in surprise , my breath catching at the unexpected pull . I turned toward him , frowning slightly . " I just wanted to say hi ? " I whispered . But he didn't answer , only glared at me briefly in a silent warning . I sighed , as I swallowed hard and nodded , sitting still , his fingers slowly unhooking from my skin once he was sure that I wouldn't move from him again . 3/4 3:19 pm PDD . Chapter 33 Boss I couldn't tell if the tension in the air was coming from the group or from him , but either way , it prickled along my skin like electricity . Luca was the first to speak as they neared our bench , hands tucked into his pockets and that same cocky smile stretching across his face . " Well , well , well , " he drawled . " Didn't think I'd find you two lovebirds out here enjoying the breeze so soon . Quick shower , Santo . " He comments . " Enjoying it until you showed up with the welcome committee , asshole ! " Coban stated , somewhat playful but ultimately insulting the others that joined . I glanced up at Luca , who shifted his weight , clearly not fazed by him as usual . His gaze then flicked to me next ... " You still doing alright with this one , Bella ? " he asked , teasingly soft as he emphasised the nickname again . Cara finally poked her head around him , hovering awkwardly a few steps back before I gave him a nod . " Yeah , I'm fine , thanks . " " Fuck ! How'd you land such a hot one , boss ? " One of the other guys behind Luca suddenly roared , as my cheeks flared . Were they mocking me ? Mocking him ? I was nothing special ... I knew that , despite the stuff Coban had said earlier . Wait ... Did he just say , boss , too ? Chapter Comments Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!