Page 75 of Sacred Hearts

I shower and dress mechanically, my mind calculating political fallout. Carlos must be behind this—the timing is too perfect. He’s positioned himself to take advantage of my inevitable downfall. The opposition will demand my resignation. Conservative Catholics will call for Marco’s removal. Our reforms—both in government and Church—will collapse.

Unless we refuse to be shamed.

The thought stops me as I’m knotting my tie. What if we don’t apologize? What if we don’t hide?

My driver is already waiting when I exit my building. Photographers swarm the car, flashbulbs exploding like artillery fire. I keep my expression neutral, neither defiant nor ashamed.

“To the office, sir?” my driver asks, visibly uncomfortable.

“Yes. Ignore them.”

My phone rings—it’s Gabriella Esposito, my Justice Minister and one of my few true allies in government.

“I assume you’ve seen,” I answer.

“The entire world has seen,” she replies. “Carlos is already making statements about ‘moral leadership’ and ‘betrayal of public trust.’”

“Of course he is.”

“Matteo, I need to know your strategy. The cabinet is dividing into camps. I’m with you, but I need to know what we’re fighting for.”

I look out the window at Rome passing by, the ancient city that has witnessed empires rise and fall, that has survived scandals far greater than this.

“The truth,” I tell her. “We’re fighting for the truth. About me, about the corruption we’ve uncovered, about everything.”

“You realize what you’re saying? This isn’t just about your career. This is about—”

“I know exactly what it’s about, Gabriella. I’m not ashamed of loving him.”

The words feel liberating as they leave my mouth. Whatever happens next, I won’t deny Marco. I won’t deny us.

“Then I’ll see you at the cabinet meeting,” she says after a pause. “And Matteo? I think you’re right. No more secrets.”

When I arrive at my office, my press secretary intercepts me before I can reach the elevator.

“Sir, we’ve drafted three possible statements. The first acknowledges the photos but classifies your relationship as a close friendship being mischaracterized—”

“No.”

“The second suggests the images have been manipulated—”

“Also no.”

He looks desperate. “The third calls it a private matter and requests respect for your personal life while—”

“I’m not hiding, Alessandro. Draft a statement acknowledging my relationship with Pope Pius. State that I will address the nation this evening. Nothing more.”

“But sir—”

“That’s all. And get me a secure line to the Vatican. I need to speak with him before either of us makes any public statements.”

My chief of staff approaches as Alessandro retreats, her face grave. “The opposition is calling for a vote of no confidence. They’ve already gathered enough signatures.”

“How long do we have?”

“Vote could be as early as tomorrow.”

I nod, strangely calm. “Then we have work to do.”