"Don't you hear him, Moor? He wants you to go."
"I meant you." Des turned his gaze to Ricci. "You got what you came for."
"Are you sure you want me to leave? Especially when he's like this? He might do something to you."
"I'm not the one he wants to hurt." Des looked at Othello. "It was a mistake to call you here, Mr. Ricci. I should have met you in a public place, but like yesterday, I'm sure it wouldn't have stopped him from doing what he did." Des sighed. "I will repeat this: you and I will have nothing to do with each other."
"Call me if you need me," Ricci said, ignoring Des's words and Othello's growl, purposely spurring on his anger. "Moor, count your days. You have one week to get your shit together. Be grateful that I might not add this little incident to your list of crimes."
"Fuck you, Ricci," Othello spat. "I went too easy on you since you're able to fucking stand and talk. But I can fix that real quick."
"You're a fucking unmannered bull who's never been taught how to heel," Cassio sneered.
"Say that shit again, and I'll pull your fucking tongue out and shove it down your throat," Othello roared.
"Don't you dare say another word," Des cut in. He couldn't take Cassio insulting Othello, calling him names, and referring to him as an animal; it was degrading and disgusting. "Please, just go."
"You're right, I should go. After all, I have a trial to prepare for. Lots of evidence to collect. And Moor, I'd rather fuck the pretty dove instead."
With that last barb, Cassio left them alone. Des didn't want to look at Othello. He had been avoiding his lover's call since yesterday. After what happened, he'd spent most of the night at Erin's house, crying on her shoulder.
Erin had convinced Des to cut all ties with Cassio by giving him the unfinished painting and his deposit back with interest. She also suggested that Des tell Othello everything. He didn't expect Othello to show up at his front door and beat the shit out of Cassio, who deserved it in many ways.
Des had never seen Othello so angry before, but it didn't scare him as much as it should have. His only worry was how he would hide the evidence from Gray.
Fuck, I'm not even concerned if a man dies, but how to protect Othello.
If he was being honest, he had to force himself to stop Othello from kicking Cassio's ass. He couldn't deny that a tiny part of him was shaking in fear. The rage he saw in his lover's eyes should have made him want to run and never look back, but it aroused him. And now he might lose him over something as stupid as a kiss he didn't want.
He loved Othello too much. Othello was the man he wanted to have children and build his life with. A family of his own was something he yearned for but thought he couldn't have because he’d been so focused on living the life his parents set out for him. But now he had a chance. Othello knew and understood him far better than he did himself. Although it wasn't his fault, he knew their trust in each other was fractured but not unrepairable.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
"For what? For liking him touching you?" Othello hissed. "For ignoring all of my calls? Or could it be for liking his lips on yours? For giving in to him?!"
"No!" Des shouted. "For not telling you the second it happened. We were arguing, and I told him we shouldn't work together anymore. Then he just hauled off and kissed me, and by the time I got my head on straight, Iago..."
"What the fuck does my brother have to do with you kissing another man?"
"He saw us, so I assumed he told you..."
"My brother would never keep something like this from me," Othello said, cutting him off. "I received an anonymous video this morning."
"Then he must have sent it," Des said.
"You're saying Iago would send me a video of you kissing Cassio? For what reason?" Othello shouted.
"I don't know," Des yelled back. "Yesterday, when everything happened, he told me to break up with you, or he'd tell you himself. I guess he jumped the gun and sent you the video," he explained, a bit calmer than he felt.
"You're lying to me, Des."
"I'm not, Othello. Please, listen, I'm telling you the truth," Des pleaded, hoping the man he loved would see he was telling the truth, but to his disappointment, Othello scoffed and shook his head.
"After every fucking thing I asked you not to do, you did it. I asked you never to cheat or lie to me, and you did both."
"Othello, I..."
"I saw Iago yesterday, and he mentioned nothing. And I know my brother. He would tell me, no matter how much it would hurt me."
