"Todd's all right! He's fine. We're both fine," he hurries to reassure her, glancing wide-eyed in her direction. It's complicated but the deal seemed the best place to start, the story easier to unfold in reverse order.

"I broke the deal because someone offered me my life. All the time, without any cost, without Todd or anyone else having to suffer for it. And so..." He shrugs lightly, a small, warm smile working its way back onto his face.