A bargain. A life for a life.
"Thank you," she said softly after a long pause. "For staying with him." Her eyes lifted to meet Marco's again. "I could never repay that debt."
"You owe me nothing," he said. "You picked up a boy on the streets and made him your son. My life is yours."
Carol exhaled slowly, shaking her head as she moved closer. "My beautiful boy," she said, reaching up to cup his cheek gently, her thumb brushing lightly against his skin. "You do not owe me your life. You owe you your life."
"I want to owe you my life," he said quietly.
Carol sighed softly, her hand falling back to her lap. She had always known this about him.
Loyal to a fault. Marco didn't know how to stop, didn't know how to choose himself when it mattered.
"Then tell me what is going on," she said gently, shifting the conversation back.
