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Julian waited quietly and patiently—behavior that had served him well in the many years he had been with the cardinal. Finally the cardinal turned around. “I want you to have the technician cross-reference this DNA with the Holy Father’s.”

Julian stared at the cardinal completely aghast. “What? We couldn’t possibly. Your Eminence...the sacrilege. The technician wouldn’t do it.”

“Everyone has a price, Father. Find his, and get it done.”

“But... I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Did I ask for your opinion?”

Julian stammered to find the right words. “N-no. But if this were to get out...”

“It won’t. That will be all.”

“But, Your Eminence, I must protest—”

“Isaidthat will be all, Father. Do your duty.”

“Yes, of course.” Julian left the room, his stomach churning. He leaned against the closed door, feeling nausea sweep through him.

For the first time in his life, he was deeply concerned about the future of the church.

Chapter Fifty-One

Lexi

“I got us a suite at the HotelPortrait Roma,” Slash said as we drove into the city. “It’s three blocks from here and it has parking.”

“Works for me. It will feel good to have a shower. All these meetings with important politicians and religious figures has maxed me out. No offense.”

“None taken. I’m with you on that.”

We found the hotel without incident, turned the car over to a valet and checked into our room. I went straight to the window. The view was a busy street facing another building with gorgeous windows and balconies.

“What’s this street?” I asked, pointing below us.

“It’s theVia Condotti. If you look up there, you can see the famous Spanish steps. They were built in the 1700s by the French to link the Spanish Embassy and theTrinità dei Montichurch to the Holy See.”

“I remember reading about the steps in high school,” I said.

He stood next to me, resting his hands on the rail. “Then you’ll likely remember that in ancient Roman times, theVia Condottiwas one of the largest passages that allowed those who traveled the Tiber River to reach Pincio Hill, a coveted spot overlooking the city. The most beautiful villas and gardens were built here. The street is named after those conduits that carried water to the famous baths at Agrippa.”

We stood there on the balcony for a few minutes, people watching and thinking about the history of the street below before returning to the room.

“How’s the wifi?” I asked, opening my laptop bag and pulling out my computer.

“The wifi is excellent.”

“Great, let’s get set up.” I put my laptop on the desk, reaching for my power cord.

“Did I mention I love a girl with a one-track mind?”

“When it comes to hacking, I’m that girl,” I answered, crawling under the desk and plugging in the laptop. “Slash, the pope said you’d finish it. Do you know what he meant?”

“I do.” Slash sat in front of his laptop, and handed me his power cord since I was still under the desk. I plugged it in and crawled out while he booted it up. “He’s giving me permission to go after Lazo.”

“What do you mean ‘permission’?”

“I’m going to take him down. Just that.”