Page 52 of Of Lies and Shadows

Then, very softly, I lean closer to Bruno, my voice barely audible. “I need contraception.”

He stiffens just slightly.

“Dante is not… careful,” I whisper, my cheeks burning. “And I don’t want a mistake.”

His jaw tightens. But he doesn’t speak. Just nods once, pulls out his phone, and steps away.

A few minutes pass, and then he’s back, handing me the phone. “Her name is Dr. Alison Greaves. She’s expecting you.”

I press it to my ear, heart thudding.

“Francesca?” comes a warm, competent voice. “My name is Alison. I’m a physician at St. Bernido’s. Bruno filled me in briefly. I understand you're in a difficult position, andI want to help. Is it alright if I ask you a few questions?”

“Yes,” I murmur, feeling Fulvio’s eyes on me from across the shop.

“Are you currently on any form of contraception?”

“No,” I whisper.

“Do you have any allergies to hormone-based medication? Any clotting disorders, migraines with aura, or previous complications with birth control?”

I keep my answers short. Vague. I give her enough to work with, nothing more.

She’s quiet for a moment. “Given the context and urgency, I can arrange a discreet appointment for a long-acting contraceptive injection. It’s safe, effective, and will protect you for three months at a time. You’ll need a brief checkup first, but Bruno has already spoken to the right people. We can keep it entirely off record.”

I exhale slowly, the air heavy in my lungs.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“We’ll take care of you,” she says gently. “Bruno will handle the details. I’ll text him the address.”

I hand the phone back, and Bruno pockets it with a soft nod, not saying a word. But the look in his eyes tells me everything. He understands.

I glance over at Fulvio, who is still watching. Always watching.

But right now, I don’t care.

Lucia is smiling. Alessio is inspecting himself like he’s about to go to battle. And for a single breath in this mess of a life, I feel like I have control over something again.

Even if it’s just my own body.

The fittings end in a blur of fabric and pins, Lucia twirling like a princess, Alessio puffing his chest with the pride of a knight. I smile, I nod, and I adjust ties and smooth skirts. I play the part.

Bruno stays close but quiet. Fulvio hovers, too, his presence a constant reminder that I’m watched, leashed, and owned.

As we exit the shop, I catch a glimpse of myself in the polished glass door. Just for a second.

I see a woman with soft curls pinned neatly, a blouse tucked crisply into a skirt. A nanny. A maid. A wife in name only.

And beneath that? A girl trying to survive a world that chews women up and calls it tradition.

“Cece,” Lucia pipes up, tugging on my hand, “do you think pirates wear ties like Alessio?”

I smile. “Only the fancy ones.”

She giggles, and Alessio rolls his eyes. The driver pulls up, and I shepherd them in, ignoring the sting in my lower body and the burn in my chest.

One moment at a time.

---