"Make sure once you get your club back, I get my fucking cut," Cassio said.
"We won't cheat you. Just do your part and give us the resources we need," Roderigo said.
"You need to teach your boy some manners. I should go," Cassio said and stood. "I await your word on Moor's capture."
"Wait, how are you doing with the other thing?" Iago said.
"It will take some time, but I will have the good little doctor in my bed soon. Once you get Moor out of the way, I will swoop in and comfort him. Hell, I might not even wait until he's dead."
Othello stopped the video and looked out the window. He couldn't believe what he’d just watched. He didn't want to believe the man he had called brother for most of his life was working with the enemy.
"There's more," Emilia whispered. Othello or Gratiano did not interrupt. "Since then, I've secretly recorded each time Iago and Roderigo meet. It was all Iago. He planned the ambush with Roderigo and Ricci to kill you, but each time you survived, he grew angrier. I don't know what they did, but Iago and Cassio plotted to break you and Des up. I'm not sure what they did, but they want it to appear as if he cheated on you, like Phillip."
At Emilia's words, Othello's heart broke. Othello recalled all the instances in which Iago tried to get him to see that Des was a cheater. But it was all a ploy. Othello didn't want to believe it, but his brother lied to him and wanted him dead.
"Why?" he asked, feeling choked up, but he held it together. He couldn't show how angry he was.
"I don't know. Maybe he's jealous," Emilia answered with a shrug. "It's one reason Iago won't give anyone whenever he'sasked. They know he wants you gone from his life. And not just you."
"What do you mean?" Othello asked, even though he might know the answer.
"Alessandro and Maria. Once you're dead, he plans to send his men to kill them," Gratiano answered for her. "I suggest you send some more people to protect them."
"They’ve got Carlo, Vito, Marco, and Nico with them. Trust me, no one is getting close to them," he growled through gritted teeth. Othello gripped the steering wheel so tightly, he thought he might tear it out of its socket.
"What are you going to do?" Gratiano said.
"I don't know," Othello answered honestly. He was so confused, angry, and heartbroken. Part of him wanted to confront Iago, while another knew he needed to work things out with Des.
Fuck, Des. I accused him of lying to me. Will he ever forgive me?
Othello took deep, calming breaths, but he couldn't explode, not yet. He didn't want to scare the twins. But he was ready to hurt someone for fucking with his life.
"Give me the rest of the evidence," he said to Emilia.
"It's all on the phone. You can keep it. After tonight, I want nothing more to do with Iago," she said.
"You understand what could happen if I decide to take revenge, right?" he asked, looking Emilia in her eyes.
"Othello, I knew the world I walked into when I agreed to be with Iago. I knew it was dangerous, and yes, it was exciting. I guess it's one of the reasons Des is attracted to you." She smiled. "ButI'm tired of his cheating, I'm tired of feeling underappreciated, and I'm tired of his lies. The only good thing that came from Iago is my twins, but I can't be with him any longer. I'm not asking you to take revenge for me; it only looks that way. I've spent enough time crying and dealing with what will happen."
"Is that why you didn't want him in the delivery room with you?" Othello asked.
Emilia nodded. She dashed away the tears that slipped down her cheeks. "Do you know how jealous I am of Des? Just one night, I saw how much you love him, and it made me realize that Iago didn't understand my love for him."
Othello felt like an asshole because hours ago, he had accused Des of lying to him.
"Don't let Iago and Cassio's game work, Othello. Hold on to Des, and build the family you've always wanted."
Othello nodded, her words sinking in. He had to apologize to Des, but first, he needed to get his shit together.
"When are you leaving?" Othello asked Emilia.
"Tonight, I'm driving out of town," she answered. "I hope to be hours away before he realizes I'm gone. Iago thinks I'm out with a friend." Emilia chuckled, but her eyes didn't sparkle. "But I doubt he even knows which friend since he's never taken an interest beyond his own needs."
"Where are you going to go?" he asked her.
"I'd rather not tell you," Emilia said. But I’ll send you updates on the twins. I don’t want them to forget their uncle." She handed him a piece of paper. "This is my new number. No one else has it."
