“Why can’t you come now?” Iago asked.
“I’m tied up with something.”
Iago was silent for a few seconds. “You’re with him, aren’t you?”
“What if I am?” Othello said.
“After what he did, you ran back to the fucking whore."
"Watch your fucking mouth, Iago!" Othello growled.
"Fuck, forget it. I don’t need your fucking help. I’ll call Roderigo. At least I know I can count on him.”
Othello hung up, and a drink was pushed into his face. Othello took it, and this time, he didn’t throw it and downed it in one clip, hissing at the burn.
“I don’t think I can do it,” Othello told Zoraki. “Even now, Iago calls me asking for help, and instead of telling him to fuck off, I can’t stop myself from going to his aid.”
“You don’t have to kill him right away, but know the longer you wait, the more you will be looking over your shoulder. You’re in a rough spot, Othello. One I wouldn’t want to be in.”
Tears threatened to fall, but Othello blinked them away. Othello reached into his pocket and pulled out the keys to the club. “Lock up for me,” he said, throwing them on the bar top and then walking out of The Mirage. He hailed a cab and gave him the address to the only place he knew he could feel normal. Thirty minutes later, he knocked on Des’s door and pulled the man into his arms the second he opened it. He felt like he was home for the first time since finding everything out.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered in Des’s ear, holding him tightly.
“I know,” Des said. “You came back to me, and that’s all that matters.”
Des snuggled closer to Othello,listening to his every breath. They hadn't said another word since Othello showed up on his doorstep. After his talk with Gray, Des had put it in his mind that he wouldn't see Othello because his lover would sink into a dark place, so he was surprised when the gentle knock came at his door well after midnight.
"You're going to leave me again, aren't you?" Des said, closing his eyes.
"I don't want to, but I need to."
Des sat up and looked at him. "Can't you tell me what happened?"
Othello cupped his face, staring into his eyes. "I want you to leave town for a while."
"N—"
Othello cut him off. "Don't argue with me right now, Des."
"I know you feel the need to help me, even though you know nothing about what's going on."
"I know some. Gray told me. I know he works for you. I'm still not sure how I feel about that, but I'll deal with it later. But you have to let me help you."
"You can do that by listening to me," Othello told him. "I don't know what will happen in the next couple of days, but it will take a load off my shoulders, knowing they can't get to me by using you."
"I want to cry and pout, but deep down, I know you're right. But I will do as you ask. It’s the grown-up thing to do, right? It's going to be a lonely trip."
"Why don't you take your mother?"
Des sighed. "My mom has decided to go back to work at the hospital. She said it was time for her to shake up the staff."
Des recalled the look of glee in Ava's eyes when she said those words, which he had to admit scared him a bit. But he knew a certain doctor was about to be jobless.
"What about your friends?"
"Bianca had to leave for a trip. Erin's busy sifting through the information to take my father down and help my mom with her divorce. And I know Gray's going to be with you."
"I don't want anyone to know about Gray yet, so I'll send him to protect you," Othello said, getting out of bed.
