A Buried Past

Before the next vote, Lomeli sits at his desk and begins to dig.

He searches the archives. Nothing suspicious.

He discreetly contacts someone in the Curia. Nothing useful.

But when he checks old ordination records, he finds something that stops him cold.

Benítez was born out of wedlock . His mother was a Spanish nun who mysteriously disappeared shortly after his birth. His father… was never officially recorded.

Lomeli shudders. If this information became public, Benítez’s candidacy would collapse instantly.

But who has been hiding it? Who has protected him all this time?

The Fourth Vote: Breaking Point

In the Sistine Chapel, the tension is unbearable.

The cardinals cast their votes. The count begins.

—Benítez… —Benítez… —Benítez…

Lomeli clenches his fists. He’s about to win.

But then, an unexpected vote appears.

Bellini.