There were smiles all around. Othello turned and whispered in Vito's ear. "Make sure Falcon's cousin never sees daylight again." He glanced over at Falcon's body. "Bury them in the same pit. They can suffer in hell together."
"Yes, boss."
With that last instruction, Othello left The Pen. He needed to report everything to Alessandro before taking him and Maria to the airport in the morning. It was even more important that Alessandro and Maria get out of town after the shooting at the docks.
Othello knew that his actions tonight would defiantly reach the ears of the commission and would cause problems for the family, but he didn't fucking care. It was time for him to take the Ricci and Greco families down.
But before going to his parents' home, he stopped by the hospital to check on Nico, even though visiting hours were over. He wasn't surprised to see Marco at his bedside.
The story they told the hospital and the cops was that he was shot in the back by some unknown person while they were taking a romantic walk on the pier. The bullet didn't hit any major organs, so his recovery would be quick and smooth.
Weeks after the ambush,Othello groaned, rolling over and reaching for Des, but he opened his eyes when he came up empty. Sighing, he sat up and looked around the moonlit bedroom, not seeing Des anywhere, but he had a feeling wherehe was. He'd been painting a lot more, even picking up a few commissioned works, which made Othello proud.
He had noticed that Des had been a little restless since the ambush. He was certain that Des didn't know about the shooting, so he was at a loss.Maybe it has something to do with his parents.Othello knew his mother had been calling Des quite a bit over the past few days.
Or the fact that we haven’t been spending much time together.After the ambush at the docks, he'd made sure Alessandro and Maria got on a plane and drove himself into work, making less time for his lover. Iago was still busy trying to get back into Emilia’s good graces, plus the twins. Othello hadn’t updated him on what had been happening.
Sighing, Othello threw the covers back, got out of bed, and was about to find his lover when his cellphone vibrated. Grabbing it, he recognized the number and knew it had to be important if they were calling so late.
"What is it?"
"The department got an anonymous tip for the weapons sale for the auction. They are trying to get a judge to sign off on a search warrant. I can't stop or stall them, but you must move quickly."
Othello pinched the bridge of his nose. The anonymous person had to be their rat.
"Thanks, I'll take care of it. How are you doing with the other thing?" By Gratiano’s silence, Othello knew he'd found something. "Tell me."
"Boss, I'm not sure about the information I gathered. I need more time to confirm a few things."
"How long do you need?"
"A few days or less, to be sure. I checked out all the leads you gave me from Falcon, but I don't have any more information to give you right now."
Othello nodded. "Okay. Do what you have to do." He was about to hang up, but Gratiano stopped him.
"Boss, keep only those you really trust near you. I'm not kidding when I tell you a huge target is on your back. The two ambushes and this tip are just the beginning."
"I thought getting shot would be it."
"No," Gratiano responded. "That was just a warning." He sighed, and Othello could tell he wanted to say more.
"Say it."
"If the information I have is correct, then I think you need to let Des get as far away from this for a while to protect him."
"Is this your way of telling me to break up with him?" Othello snapped.
"No," Gratiano answered quickly. "Boss, I know how you can be, and blood is going to be spilled; I just don't want it to be his."
"What exactly do you think you have? Just say it."
"Please, let me confirm the information before I tell you everything," Gratiano said pleadingly. "I'm asking you to trust me, Othello. Let me do the job you hired me to do, and that is to look out for your best interest."
Othello's brows furrowed. The only time Gratiano referred to him by his first name was when he wanted Othello to pay attention.
"Okay," he conceded. "Hurry and do what you need to do. I'm sick of not knowing who is working against me."
"Will do. And think about what I said about Des."
