"Thanks for saying that. And I knew there was a reason I was so attracted to you from the beginning."
"So you'll let me pay you?"
"Hm...only with kisses." He smiled. "And lots of them."
"Gods, you're so cheap." He chuckled. "But someone I can definitely afford." Othello wrapped Des in his arms, pulling him close and claiming his sweet lips.
A couple of days later,Othello sat in the far back corner of a dive bar on the other side of town, looking at the person who had just sat before him.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I had to ditch my partner to meet with you."
"It's fine. I called you out on short notice," Othello said, leaning back in his seat. "When were you going to tell me you and Des were friends?"
Gratiano sighed. "I mean no disrespect when I say this, boss, but I didn't expect you two to get together. Des told Bianca and me about his attraction to you, and I guess I wasn't expecting him to follow through and pursue you. I love him as a friend," he added quickly. "But when it comes to putting himself out there, he doesn't for fear of rejection. It's why he never fought his parents when they pushed him to become a doctor. He's changed since he met you."
Othello nodded. "I don't think I can take credit for that. It's always been inside of him. I assume you don't want him to know about our connection?"
"Not yet." Gratiano sighed. "He's not ready to hear that his best friend has been a part of the mob since he was sixteen and only became a cop so that he could watch his boss’s back. Maybe one day I'll tell him, but not yet."
"He knows about me, Gratiano," Othello said.
"You told him?" Gratiano asked, seeming surprised.
"When have I ever lied about me or my family?"
"Forgive me, but that's not what I meant. It's just that, I figured Des would have walked away once he found out you're a mob boss." He sighed and sat back in his chair, hard. "I guess he's really changed."
"He took the news pretty well," Othello said with a smile. "But he did ask if I killed anyone."
"What did you tell him?"
"I found ways to distract him." He waggled his eyebrows at his friend.
Gratiano chuckled. "You might think he forgot, but he'll bring it up again."
"Then I'll keep distracting him until he stops asking. Alright, enough of that. There's another matter why I called you out here."
"Okay, I'm listening."
"I need you to go undercover and investigate who is working against us. There's a rat amongst our midst, and I want you to sus them out."
"Okay, how?" Gratiano asked.
Othello reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to Gratiano. "This is some information on the shooting from the warehouse six months ago. We're still trying to figure out who ambushed us. My money is on the Ricci and Greco families. Find the link between them and our rat. Report anything you find to me and no one else. Right now, I don't know who to trust."
"Yes, boss."
Othello stood, but before he could walk away, Gratiano spoke.
"I'm loyal to you and have been since you first took me in as a friend. I owe you a lot, Othello. And although I might not be able to kick your ass, if you hurt him, nothing will stop me from trying to kill you."
Othello smiled. "Then you're no longer loyal to me, Gratiano, or should I call you Gray from now on?"
"Anything that makes you happy, boss," Gratiano said, looking at him.
"Contact me when you have something significant."
This time, Othello walked away, feeling the need to see his little treasure.
