“Don’t waste it, Doc. I don’t give out my private number to anyone.” Des looked at the phone and then at Moor, trying to figure out if there was some kind of meaning behind his words. In any event, he nodded and left the handsome man’s apartment.
SCENE III
OTHELLO
Othello entered the Romano home and nodded to the house manager, Carlo, before heading straight for his father’s office. Alessandro and Maria were getting older and needed more help at the house since he didn’t stay home that much, and Iago lived with Emilia, his girlfriend, across town. Othello knocked and waited for Alessandro to respond before he entered.
“You finally showed up,” Iago joked. "Looks like you wanted extra time with your new lover," but Othello didn't pay attention as he settled on the couch while Iago and Alessandro occupied the wingback chairs by the desk.
“Alright, Iago, don’t start,” Alessandro said. “Tell me what the Rossetti clan wants.” Alessandro was the kind of man who liked to get to the point of the matter.
“We missed something in our intel when we planned on taking over the Rizzo clan territories. They had a deal with the Rossettis that they got to use the east side of the ports, and any business that crossed the lines had to go through Rizzo. Rossetti wants to keep the deal as is.”
“No,” Iago said instantly, just as Alessandro spoke up.
“What are they offering? If I know Rizzo, he didn’t do anything for free.”
“Ten percent of the cargo.”
Alessandro sat back in his chair, crossed his legs, and studied Othello before he spoke. “What did you tell him?”
“Fifteen percent, and it’s not up for negotiation. We’ll also have our guys police the cargo.”
“I can’t believe you,” Iago shouted. “You know they deal with more than just imported art and cars. Their main supply is drugs, human trafficking, and whatever the fuck else they can get their hands on.”
Neither Alessandro nor Othello could disagree with Iago. The Romano clan was known for their involvement in gambling, escort services, prostitution, and other unsavory deals, unlike other clans that focused on drugs and human trafficking.
“We have to step away from this deal,” Iago said calmly.
“What do you think, Othello?” Alessandro asked.
“Why are you asking him?” Iago said, and they both looked at him.
“Other than the drugs and trafficking, why shouldn’t we work with the Rossettis?” Othello questioned.
“Those are reasons enough,” Iago argued.
“What if I told you the Rossetti clan no longer deal in drugs and all that shit.”
Iago huffed. “Then I’d call you a fool for believing that your old flame’s family has somehow grown a heart. You and I know how close they are to the Ricci family. How do you think they got so far up in just a few short years?”
“Good thing I’m not a fool then, Iago.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Since Luca couldn’t guarantee me that none of his cargo had drugs or human stock, I can’t have him bring his shipment through our port. So they will need to find someone else, and since we now own the most effective borders, it will be pretty hard for them. Since we took over the docks, the cops have been patrolling them pretty heavily. I can't have the feds crawling around when we meet with the Japanese in a few weeks.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you say that from the beginning?” Iago snapped.
“Because you blew up before I could get a chance.” Othello tsked, shaking his head.
“Alright, boys, enough bickering,” Alessandro said, then looked at Othello. “You did the right thing. We have our faults, but that shit will never be one of them.”
Othello and Iago nodded in agreement. The subject was changed to other matters that took a couple of hours. They talked about the weapons deal they were making with the head of a Japanese yakuza and when the meeting would take place. At the thought, the little doctor came to mind, and he wondered just how good he was at the whole art thing, since it sounded as if his parents had forced him to be a doctor. Othello didn't think he could continue to do a job he hated, no matter how good he was at it.
He appreciated that Alessandro had given him an option for what he wanted. Once their meeting was over, Othello went to see Maria, spending a few minutes with her before setting off for the office. The construction company might have been a front, but it provided and took on legitimate businesses that Othello had to oversee.
“Hey, O, wait up,” Iago called out to him just as he was about to open the front door.
