Surviving Venice by Anna Eriksson Bendewald

Author:Anna Eriksson Bendewald [Bendewald, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hudson-Ivy Press
Published: 2019-06-05T22:00:00+00:00

On Christmas Eve, Gina and the boys had exchanged gifts in their apartment, and she may have used a bit too much fragrance because while they were technically supposed to renew their attempt to get her pregnant tomorrow, they’d had sex before going to the Verona palazzo to pick up Juliette, Ippy, the pope, Ivar, and various security agents for their flight to Rome.

She wondered what could be done about the scent. She was sitting between the boys and while Juliette and Ivar were oblivious—talking on the phone to Yvania, Markus, and Giselle—the boys were exchanging knowing looks and talking about nothing but becoming parents. The fragrance wasn’t water-soluble, so no remedy came to Gina’s mind.

Upon arrival at the Vatican, Vincenzo’s bodyguard and the Swiss Guard melted into inconspicuous rounds. The family went straight to the papal apartments where, unlike what she’d imagined, the meal was a simple affair. The moment the meal concluded, the boys spirited her down the hall to a small door and ushered her through it. Gina found herself inside a dark Frankincense-scented chamber with velvet tapestries on the walls and candles flickering in red votives. She was already pulling her dress up over her head as they ripped their own clothes off and, together, they made an excellent attempt at conception with her laid across a heavy low marble table.

They put themselves back together pretty well afterward, but Gina’s purse was in the dining area by Juliette, and she desperately needed her comb. Leaving the boys behind, she snuck into the hall with her bedhead and hadn’t gotten more than three strides when she heard, “Ah, you’ve returned. What a nice surprise.”

It was that frightening man. What had Ippy said his name was? Carnal?

“Uh, Buon Natale,” she stammered as she turned around to face him.

“Taking some time for prayer and reflection before midnight mass?” He looked to the door she’d just come through and then back to her. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes weren’t.

“Do you know where la contessa is? I seem to have gotten separated from her.”

“She’s just through those doors.” He pointed in the direction of the papal apartments.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Hierotymis Karno. And you are Gina.”

“You have an excellent memory.” She looked up at him and offered a smile she hoped would be disarming.

“I do.” His expression was opaque. His eyes were all over her, from her mouth to her hair, and roaming over her body. He made no effort to move, and then his eyes slid to the door she’d just exited.

“Would you accompany me?” she asked out of sheer panic. She hoped to lure him away from the boys. “I’ve never had a tour of this area. What’s that statue over there on the end? Is it a pope?” She began walking toward it.

“There are no tours in this area,” he said as he fell into step alongside her. He took her arm and leaned close as he pointed down the hall. “That statue is Papa Gregorio XVI.

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