After a long swig from her wine, Smuggler put her glass down. "Remember kiddo, the life itself is a grand market. Everything in it can be purchased, if only you know how to make the payment. For example love: The thing called true love is an auction: The heart goes to the highest bidder. In Madre's case it was the Padre."
"Then what did he offered?"
"A happy marriage with his heart." A smug grin played on Ellie's lips. "In exchange of her own."