Grandchildren.

She’d been afraid to look into Leo’s eyes after that. But he had to know this couldn’t work now. He’d promised he wouldn’t require sexual intimacy from her. In a big family that expected big families, this would never work. How would he keep them at bay if they were chomping at the bit for mini-Leos?

Did Leo want that? Did he want a marriage and a big family? It hadn’t occurred to her to ask. All she’d wanted was to stay alive and not be violated or locked in a dungeon. The finer logistics hadn’t crossed her mind amidst the other mental noise. How long would he accept this lie before he wanted something real with someone?

He’d said he wouldn’t force her, but he must imagine someday she would willingly give in to him, especially in light of how she’d begun to relish their pretend kisses too much. He must know. What would he say when he found out she might not be able to have children? Would that be the end of everything?

And if she could have children—something she wasn’t sure she wanted—would she be forced to have them to keep up appearances with his demanding family?

The alternative was a “breakup.” But then what would happen? If he didn’t get rid of her, she’d be in the dungeon every Christmas for as long as he let her live. She couldn’t get the image of spiders and rats crawling over her out of her mind. Her apartment had the occasional rat problem. She’d woken more than once to find a disgusting rodent crawling over her. The memory made her shudder and hold onto Leo’s hand tighter as they made their way through the house, away from his mother but toward new dangers. Faith would rather have his babies—if she could—in a loveless pretend marriage, than spend any time in a dungeon with creepy crawlies.

When they reached the entryway, Demetri had already let the new guests in. This time, it was a larger swell of people. A few children—around eight or nine years old—already running around screaming and playing tag, a couple of women with Brooklyn accents, about forty-two necklaces layered on top of each other, too-painted faces, and big hair. Several men clung to the walls like malevolent gargoyles.

The men had hard, criminal faces. It was impossible for Faith to understand how their women went along with all this, pretending to be oblivious. It was impossible to be oblivious. Those faces said death and broken bones. Those faces said you have forty-eight hours to get me my money or you’re losing your kneecaps.

It made Faith move closer to Leo, hoping he could and would protect her from them. Then the introductions started. The kids waved and went back to playing. The women, Dona and Rachele, appraised her as if they didn’t quite buy Faith and Leo as a love match. “She’s a bit young for your usual taste, isn’t she?” One of them had asked. These two women could end her life with their skepticism.