Putting the matter with the commission out of his mind, Othello studied Iago for a few minutes and could tell his brother had something on his mind.
"Everything alright with the twins?"
Iago beamed. "They are perfect little monsters who have taken over my heart."
"What about you and Emilia?"
"It's the same, if not worse," Iago said sadly. "She only talks to me when it has something to do with the twins. I know I fucked up, but she's forgiven me before."
Othello said nothing. He had no advice to give Iago to help him, so he simply poured them both another drink.
"I will win her back, I'm certain of it. Emilia loves me."
But do you want to love her?Othello mentally asked.
"Enough about me. Let's talk about you and your doctor," Iago said.
"My relationship with Des has nothing to do with you and Emilia."
"But can you trust him?" Iago asked.
Othello put his drink down, glaring at his brother. "What are you getting at?"
"I don't trust him," Iago stated firmly.
"Are you saying this because of what's happening with you and Emilia?"
"No," he answered. "I've just been thinking a lot lately.”
"That still doesn't prove why you don't trust Des." Othello took a deep breath, trying not to get angry. For whatever reason, Iago had a problem with Des. "What has he done to you?"
"I think he's bad news. Since you started seeing him, bad shit's been happening. I get that he saved your life, but knowing what I know now, I think he's working for the enemy."
"Take that shit back, right the fuck now," Othello growled.
"I knew you wouldn't believe me." He picked up his cellphone, started scrolling through it, then stopped and handed it to Othello. On the screen was a video of Des and Cassio Ricci standing far too close to each other, conversing. He couldn't hear them or read their lips to figure out what they were saying, but by the comfort in body language, it was evident it wasn't the first time they had met.
"How did you get this?" Othello asked, glancing at Iago and then back at the screen.
"You should know by now that if something is bugging me, I don't let it go until I have proof."
At times, Iago could be like a dog with a bone when he was fixated on something.
"I think Falcon was working with Ricci," Iago kept talking as Othello tried his damndest to figure out what the people on the screen were saying to each other. "The night we were ambushed, Falcon's cousin worked on you, then Ellington operated on you. Six months later, he shows up at our club and works his way into your life. I strongly believe Ricci sent him to spy on you. How else would he know about you going to the docks? Or about the weapons at the auction house? Didn't you take him there?"
He stopped the video and looked at Iago."You've put a lot of thought into this," he said.
"You don't sound convinced," sighed Iago.
"Honestly, no," Othello said. "Based on what you're saying, Des knew about all of my activities and made sure he would be on duty the night I got shot. It doesn't add up, Iago."
"How do you figure that?" Iago asked. Othello wasn't sure why he could feel tension from his brother when they were having a calm conversation.
"Des and I don't talk about family business." He shrugged his shoulders. "The leak is someone else."
"I don't believe it. How do you explain his relationship with Ricci?"
"What relationship?" Othello stood, shaking his head. "Just because you don't like Des, you're grasping at straws." He looked at Iago seriously. "I get you're trying to protect me because of Phillip. But for the last fucking time, they are not the same people. The more you talk about your lack of trust in Des when you don't even know him, the more I think you have ulterior motives. Don't make me think ill of you, Brother, so I'd advise you to drop it. Better yet, go home. You have your ownrelationship to worry about. Stay the fuck out of mine," Othello told him, no longer in the mood to listen to Iago's ramblings.
