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Cardinal Bartini removed his hand. “We will wait to see how you resolve this. But even if you survive, I believe this will cost you considerable support. I will pray for you.”

He walked past Jacopo without any more comment. The other cardinals filed out silently, most avoiding direct eye contact with him.

Jacopo’s anger boiled as he snatched his zucchetto and slammed it down on his head. When he stalked out of the room through Julian’s office, he saw it was empty. Just as well. He was ready for a fight. He’d been itching for a confrontation with the Holy Father and now he had it. He had no doubt that the pope had a hand in this mess. Now, he’d find out how deep that hand went.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Cardinal Jacopo Lazo

“The Holy Father will see you now.”

Jacopo followed the priest into the Holy Father’s office. Once he was ushered in, he approached the pope, kneeling and kissing the ring as he was offered it.

“Father Lazo,” the pope said softly. “Please have a seat.”

Jacopo sat as instructed, then watched as the pope rested his cane against his chair and sat across from him.

“I’m disappointed by the correspondence I’ve seen from you but encouraged by your confession and apology in the letter you penned to all of us this afternoon.”

Jacopo leaned forward. “I’m afraid none of this is true. I was hacked. Someone was posing as me. I never wrote those emails, and I certainly have no intention of resigning.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Jacopo carefully studied the Holy Father’s face. “Of course I’m sure.”

“It does not suit you to lie, Jacopo.”

“I’mnotlying.” Yet, his hands had started to sweat. The Holy Father looked too assured, too calm for his taste.

For a minute the Holy Father didn’t speak, just regarded him. Jacopo kept the calm expression on his own face, waiting. Two could play this game. He had to be patient and see in what direction the Holy Father wanted to take this.

“It’s no secret we don’t share the same views on the future of the church,” the pope finally said.

“No, it’s not,” Jacopo agreed.

“I am greatly concerned by a number of your recent actions. I fear you have lost sight of the true way. You wish for power for the wrong reasons.”

“That’s an outrageous assumption. None of my actions should trouble you. I have but the purest of intentions when it comes to the future of this church.”

“Perhaps you truly believe that. But first, let us discuss your home residence.”

“My home?” Jacopo startled, surprised by the abrupt shift of topic. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Your home recently underwent renovations, did it not?”

“It did, as it is located in quite an old building. It badly needed updating. But what does that have to do with anything?”

“Did that update include a $20,000 bathtub and an 800-square-foot fitness room?”

Jacopo made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “I don’t know the exact cost of the bathtub, but I can confirm I did request a fitness room. My body is a vessel of Christ. It’s not as if the president of the Vatican can just go to the gym.”

The Holy Father regarded him critically. “Or fraternize with the other priests who use the fitness rooms already provided by the Vatican?”

“I prefer to have my own space. That’s not a sin.”

“Hmmm. Did you not commission a giant iron cross suspended from the ceiling of the new personal chapel that you also had built as an addition to your residence?”

Jacopo leaned forward. “Where are you going with this? You know full well that the president of the Vatican entertains important guests. It is vital for them to see us in settings that reinforce our position.”