Innocent Blood(48)

She had no trouble recognizing the pope’s summer residence.

Castel Gandolfo.

As their aircraft descended toward a neighboring helipad, she wondered about this destination. Had the residence always been their goal or was this simply a quick and convenient hideout after the explosion?

Ultimately she didn’t care. They needed rest and a place to recuperate.

Any port in a storm . . .

She glanced at her fellow passengers, recognizing this truth. Jordan looked haggard under a mask of soot and grime. Nadia’s stern countenance was set, but shadowed with sadness. Christian still had traces of blood streaked in the creases of his face, making him look much older, or maybe it was just exhaustion.

Across from her, Rhun hadn’t taken his eyes off the bundle in his arms, looking stricken and worried. He cradled Bathory’s cloaked head against his shoulder with one hand. The countess lay still as death in his arms.

As soon as the skids touched ground, the Sanguinists rushed Erin and Jordan off the helipad. Ambrose’s body remained on board, although each Sanguinist touched him as they disembarked, even Rhun. According to Christian, the pilot and copilot would attend to the priest’s body.

Erin and Jordan followed the others down a gravel path through a rose garden, the plants long off their bloom. A few minutes later, they reached a spade-shaped door set into the stucco garden wall. Christian opened it and led them down a corridor with a gleaming terrazzo floor. Salons and rooms opened to either side, decorated with medieval tapestries and gilt-edged furniture.

At an intersection, Nadia beckoned Rhun to the left with his burden. Christian pointed Erin and Jordan to the right.

“I’m taking you to rooms where you can wash up,” he said.

“I’m not letting Erin out of my sight,” Jordan said.

She tightened her grip on his hand. She wasn’t letting him out of her sight either.

“Already figured as much,” Christian said. “And I’m not letting either of you out of my sight until you are safe in that room. The plan is to wait for the cardinal’s return. We’ll recover and regroup, then figure out what to do next.”

With the matter settled, Jordan followed Christian. Tall windows on one side of this corridor looked out over the lake. White sails glided across the blue water, and seagulls soared above. It was a serene view, almost surreal after all the devastation and death.

Jordan was clearly less captivated, his mind elsewhere. “What do you think happened to Leopold?”

Christian touched his cross. “He was closer to the source of the explosion. His body may never be found. But the cardinal will keep searching until rescue personnel and police arrive. If Leopold’s body is found, the cardinal will claim him and bring him here.”

Reaching an oaken door, Christian unlocked it and ushered them both through, then followed them inside. He quickly crossed and closed the shutters over the windows that looked out upon the lake. He switched on a few wrought-iron lamps. The room held a double bed with a white duvet, a marble fireplace, and a seating area in front of the windows.

Christian disappeared through a small side door. Erin followed after him, trailed by Jordan. She found a simple bathroom with white walls, toilet, and sink. A shower stood in the corner, tiled in the same marble as the floor. Two thick towels rested on a low wooden table, topped by a fresh change of clothes.

It looked like she would be wearing tan pants and a white cotton shirt. Jordan would have on jeans and a brown shirt.

Hanging against the back of the bathroom door were a pair of familiar leather jackets. On their prior mission, she and Jordan had worn this very set of outerwear, constructed from the hides of grimwolves—slash-proof and tough enough to withstand strigoi bites. She stroked her hand down the battered brown leather, remembering the battles of the past.

Christian opened the medicine cabinet and took out a first-aid kit. “This should have what you need.”

He turned and marched back to the hall door. He lifted up a stout brace that leaned against the wall next to the exit and handed it to Jordan. “This is reinforced with a core of steel.”

Jordan hefted the bar. “Feels like it.”

“Once I’m on the other side, use it to brace the door.” Christian pointed to a chest at the foot of the bed. “You’ll also find weapons there. I don’t expect you’ll need them, but it’s better not to be caught off guard.”

Jordan nodded, eyeing the chest.

“Let no one in besides me,” Christian said.

“Not even the cardinal or Rhun?” she asked.

“No one,” Christian repeated. “Someone knew we were on that train. My best advice for both of you is to trust no one except each other.”