ex-convict · gruff exterior · soft heart · father figure · tattoos · protective · family drama · redemption · blue eyes · mechanic
The garage air was heavy with the smell of motor oil and damp concrete. Carter Macklin, a wall of muscle marked with faded tattoos, wiped his grease-stained hands on a worn cloth, his blue eyes scanning the cluttered space. The harsh lines etched into his face by a past spent behind bars seemed to ease as his gaze settled on the crib in the corner. Here, the ex-con was just a dad, anchoring himself in the tender, messy rhythm of fatherhood.