Othello smiled, feeling the same as the man he considered his brother. The day Don Alessandro showed up at their group home, he’d brought presents for all the kids, which had thrown him and Iago off guard. After looking at his driver's license, they knew his name was Alessandro Romano. But they’d had no clue how the man they had robbed would show up at their home with those intense eyes trained on them as if he knew everything from start to finish.
Twenty minutes into the visit, Othello and Iago were pulled into a room and berated for doing a shitty job of stealing from someone and getting caught. He wasn’t angry that they had stolen from him, but how they went about it. Othello and Iago couldn’t believe it, which took away most of the fear he had held onto since Alessandro showed up. He only complimented them that they didn’t run out and run the same trick again.
“We didn’t get caught if it took you three days to show up,” Othello argued back, even though he was scared out of his wits. The man’s intense eyes were boring into them.
“Five minutes after you guys stole from me, I knew. I just couldn’t stop to deal with you two,” Alessandro said, and to Othello, he didn’t sound upset that a couple of kids had played a trick on him. “I had to meet up with my wife and go out of town on business. So, I had my people watching this place to make sure it was legit and to keep an eye on you two. Whose idea was it?”
“It was my idea,” Othello answered.
“Next time, kid, don’t look for your partner in the crowd. I realized what had happened after I had time to think things through.” He sighed. “What made me your mark?”
“What are you, a cop?” Iago asked and was rewarded with a light smack on the side of his head.
“Cops don’t dress as stylish as I do, kid,” Alessandro said, fixing his expensive suit jacket, sitting back in the chair, and crossing one leg over the other. “I own one of the largest construction companies in New York and another in New Jersey.”
“Sorry,” Iago said sheepishly, rubbing his head.
“Don’t do that,” Alessandro said, leaning forward and looking them both in the eyes. “Never apologize for anything you do. Simply correct things and move on.” Both boys nodded as Alessandro stared at them. “You boys need to be taught properly. If you continue doing what you’re doing, you’ll get caught.”
“Your clothes and the fact that you had the latest cellphone,” Othello told him.
“You’re the smart one, I see.” Alessandro chuckled.
“How did you find us?” Othello asked.
“It wasn’t that hard. I simply asked the right people. You brats are quite the troublesome pair. Be thankful no one has turned you both in for the shit you’ve been getting into.” Tsking, Alessandro stood, and so did the two boys. “Be ready in three days.”
“For what?” Othello was confused and curious.
“I’m taking you both home to meet my wife. Once she meets you two, she’ll want to adopt you. And I have to admit, I kind of like you both.”
“How come?” Iago asked, and Othello heard the curiosity in his voice that mirrored his own.
“I don’t know,” he responded. “But something in my gut tells me I should keep you two close. And I always follow my gut.”
He’d walked out of the room, leaving them shocked by his declaration. Alessandro returned as promised three days later and signed them out of Willow-Brook for a day. Ms. Mooney was all too happy to let them go. When they reached their destination, Iago and Othello couldn’t believe how massive the house was. Alessandro had money to live in one of Verona Heights' wealthiest neighborhoods, meaning he was influential. It was a gated area with guards that protected the neighborhood twenty-four-seven. Othello didn’t know just how much power Alessandro wielded.
Before they exited the car, Alessandro instructed them not to mention their stealing habits and to be on their best behavior. The minute they were introduced to Maria Romano, formerly Montemayor, she showered them with kisses and hugs. On their first visit, she tried to feed them so much food because she thought they were malnourished. Othello had to admit she sold him on her hugs and care, which made him realize just how starved for motherly affection he was.
Othello later found out that Maria was the daughter of the well-known actor turned director Enzo Montamayor. Maria was beautiful, with long, flowing dark hair and dark brown eyes that seemed like chocolate and complemented her smooth bronze skin.
Just as Alessandro wanted, they were perfect little boys, which warranted them visiting many times after that, even spending weekends. Both Alessandro and Maria were in their late thirties, and after many attempts to have children, they all resulted in miscarriages. Maria’s body was too frail to carry a baby full-term. So they looked into the idea of adopting a baby or using a surrogate, but when Othello and Iago stole from Alessandro, they’d piqued his interest.
After a few months of being around the boys, they started the adoption process, with Iago and Othello’s permission. Since the boys could be together and live in a large mansion, they were not against it in the least. However, until the adoption process was complete, they often stayed at the group home and visited the Romanos. That was Iago and Othello’s idea. They wanted to get the younger kids used to them not being around rather than leaving them high and dry.
Each time they visited Romano’s home, Othello grew curious about why they saw very little of Alessandro, why some people called him Don, why large men roamed around like guards, and what the man did for a living to afford such a large home. Othello, being who he was, would sneak around trying to get answers until one day, he walked into a part of the large house that Alessandro had told him never to enter and ended up spying on something he shouldn’t have: the older Romano pointing a gun at a guy’s head who was crying his eyes out, begging not to die. Othello’s eyes widened in surprise because he had never seen this side of the man before. Sure, he was serious, but to hold a weapon to a man with a threatening stance was something new.
“Do you understand that my wife and children are in the house?” Alessandro said, his voice calm, yet the look in his eyes spoke volumes more than Othello had ever seen.
“Don Alessandro, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Please, don’t kill me.”
“After what you did, do you really expect me to let you live?” Alessandro shouted. “You betrayed me, Lodovico, you know our family motto. Betrayal is unforgivable, so you know I cannot let you walk out of here alive.”
Just as he said the words, the man’s brains and blood were splattered all over, and his body tilted to the side, falling on the floor. Othello hadn’t heard the gun go off, but he knew that his heart was beating so loud in his chest he was certain the man had heard it. Othello should have been terrified out of his mind. But he wasn’t. He had never seen anyone get murdered before, but he was more excited to see what would happen next.
“Clean this shit up,” Alessandro ordered.
“Yes, Don Alessandro.”
