Scene III
SCENE III
O thello stood in front of the mirror, running his fingers over the tattoo that covered the gunshot wound on his side. It was another reminder of what had happened two years ago: the bullet that went through Iago and clipped Othello in his side, not damaging anything major but leaving a scar. He had woken up in the hospital, suffering not only from the bullet wound but mostly from dehydration and exhaustion.
"You're not ready yet?"
Othello smiled while buttoning his shirt and greeted Alessandro, who had entered the hotel suite. Alessandro was wearing a black tuxedo, matching shirt, and blood-red tie.
"Are you nervous?" Alessandro asked.
"A little," Othello admitted. "It is not every day a man marries the love of his life."
"I'm happy and proud of you, Othello. I don't know if I tell you that enough. I only wish Iago were here to see this. He'd be the one to take your nerves away by saying something outrageous."
Othello smiled, hoping to mask his pain. Since Iago’s death, many things had changed. The Romano family now ran the underworld, and all the businesses thrived.
"I'm sure he would have," Othello said, turning away. "I miss him."
"I miss him too. We all do," Alessandro said.
Othello couldn't look at his father at that moment. He had lied to his parents about the events and how things unfolded, keeping only one truth: that Cassio had pulled the trigger, killing Iago. He had kept Iago’s dignity intact, not wanting Maria and Alessandro to know about the hateful words Iago had uttered.
They had been good parents to them both, and Othello took it upon himself to carry Iago's biting words. Even though, in the end, he was sorry. He had instructed his men not to say a word about what happened that day, and he was glad they were loyal to him and remained silent.
"You're still not ready?" Gratiano's voice came into the room, and Othello groaned.
“Don’t start. We still have at least one hour before I need to be at the altar.” Othello said, looking at the former cop.
"You realize Des is probably freaking out right now?" Gratiano said.
Alessandro said, "He has his mother, my wife, Bianca, Tallen, and Erin with him. I'm sure he's fine."
"Whose idea was it that he and I couldn't see each other before we walked down the aisle again?"
"Ava and Maria, now shut up and get dressed," Gratiano instructed.
Gray and Zoraki have become true friends in the past couple of years. In the days that followed, while Othello was in the hospital, Gratiano and Zoraki worked together to clean up the mess, keeping the cops, news reporters, and everyone else distracted and off their scent while they mourned their loss and buried their loved ones.
It had taken the family a while to accept that Gratiano had been one of them all along. Othello had been considering naming him the new consigliere. The position had been vacant for too long, and it was time he and everyone else moved on. Iago left a big hole and shoes to fill. It was too bad he didn’t realize that he wasn’t second but the best.
A gentle knock came at the door, and Gratiano went to answer it. "What are you doing here?" he asked softly. "Is everything alright with the boys?"
At the last question, Othello knew who had shown up. Emilia had returned for Iago's funeral but left again, stating she needed time. No one stopped her, but everyone encouraged her with a great understanding that she should keep in touch. Emilia returned six months ago with the twins.
At that time, she and Gratiano had grown close, and Othello was certain there would be wedding bells for another couple soon. He wasn’t sure which one, since Zoraki had been trying to woo Bianca and Erin, and neither woman seemed to mind sharing his foreign friend. Zoraki had returned to Japan only long enough to check on his operations, then returned to the United States and integrated the two families operating under Otherllo’s leadership.
Othello hadn't pictured his life turning out the way it had. He was committed to being alone, never marrying or having children. His only plan was to fulfill his promise to Alessandro of making the Romano family the most influential and successful in Verona Heights. As per the rules of the games, the Romano clan had accumulated all the major properties of the Greco and Ricci families.
Greco had an heir, but he wanted nothing to do with his father’s business. He gave Othello everything without a fight and walked away with millions that would last him a lifetime. After learning of Cassio’s death, Dominico Ricci died, leaving no heir, meaning all properties belonged to the Romano family. Othello wouldn’t deny that the events had changed him. He had more than just the Romano properties to protect; he had to keep the people safe, especially those he held dear.
"You don’t look nervous." Emilia handed Antonio to him. The twins came into their features daily, combining Emilia and Iago's appearance.
"It's lessened since everyone showed up," he answered, rubbing Antonio's back. They moved away from the others, taking time to talk. In the months since Emilia returned, they’d grown closer and become more like brother and sister. "How are you doing?"
"I'm better," Emilia responded, looking in Gratiano's direction, who was holding and playing with Tybalt, making him giggle.
"He's good with the twins," Othello told her.
"He is." She nodded. "Do you think..."
"It's time, Emilia," he said, cutting her off. "You don't need to hold onto him anymore."
"Gray feels guilty," Emilia whispered.
"For what?" Othello asked.
"He thinks if he hadn't convinced me to speak to you, things might not have turned out the way they did. Des might not have gotten kidnapped if he had stuck around."
"Nothing Gratiano said or did was his fault. Things were bound to happen. Iago kidnapping Des was on me for what I said to Iago the night you left."
Des had told Othello everything that had happened. Iago had shown up at Des's apartment, ready for an argument. He saw the two best friends hugging afterward and assumed they had something going on. Gratiano left to collect a few things for their trip, allowing Iago to kidnap Des and get him to the warehouse as an insurance policy to make Othello behave. The only thing that made Othello angry was that the two hadn’t left town when he told them to. After he instructed Gratiano to take Des out of the city, he cut off all communication with him to keep him safe. Othello could admit now that it was a stupid mistake.
"He's asked me out," Emilia said, breaking into his thoughts. Her eyes hadn’t looked away from Gratiano.
"And?" Othello handed Antonio back to her.
"Maybe after the wedding," she responded.
"Why not as his plus-one?"
"This is your day with Des. You two have been waiting for this moment. Especially after all the trouble his mother gave you."
"We wouldn't be getting married if I hadn't won her over," Othello said.
"I swear even the big, bad, Don Othello Romano-Moor is afraid of his boyfriend's mother."
"She was a hard nut to crack." He smiled, turned, and finished getting dressed.
When he woke up, Des was sleeping next to him on the bed, practically draped over him, and Ava was on the chair not far from the bed, sternly staring at him.
"I'm glad you're awake, Mister Moor."
"Othello, please," he responded.
"Very well."
"I take it you have something to say to me."
"I do," she said. "I don't like you. You put my son in danger, and I'm very displeased that you made him cry. But I also know you have helped him more than I could have. He's become stronger since he met you. I have no right to anything that happens in his life, not after all the things I've done to him over the years.
"Do you love my son, Mister Moor?"
"With every ounce of my breath," Othello responded.
"Then earn my trust as I must earn his. I won't stand in your way if I deem you worthy of his love."
"What if I never win you over?" he asked.
"Then you just have to keep trying until you do. Don't waste time, Mister Moor. I know many suitors who can easily take your place. Oh, and don't make me a grandmother until you're married. Despite my impending divorce, I’m a traditionalist, Mister Moor."
Othello knew she was bluffing; it was her way of having some say in Des's life. Of course, Othello indulged Ava. She wasn't so bad and got along well with Maria, who encouraged her to start dating. As for not making her a grandmother, Othello couldn't wait to see her face when they announced the good news. After Othello had gained Ava's approval, they found out Des was pregnant, and at Des's first art showing, Othello proposed.
Des had come into his own in the past couple of years. He opened his art studio, where he taught art and had showings for other up-and-coming artists. He entered a few art competitions, losing and winning a few of them, bringing recognition to his studio. Des welcomed students of all levels and no longer held onto the belief that he did not want to be famous. That thought went out the door when he won his first competition.
As for David Ellington, his life went down the shitter. It started when Ava publicly announced that she was filing for divorce due to infidelity and a love child. His ratings in the polls dropped, but not enough to put him out of the race. However, after all his crimes of bribery, embezzlement, and even murder that not even Ava knew about came to light, he lost his race and his dignity and was now spending life in prison without parole.
With one last look in the mirror, Othello walked out of the suite, ready to claim his man and show him off to the world. He couldn’t wait for Des to be in the aisle; he needed to see him now. Taking a few short steps, Othello knocked on Des's room and gasped when he saw his lover dressed in a sparkling white suit and a long jacket that touched the floor with slits on the side. His long hair was cut, revealing his big, beautiful eyes and bright smile.
"You look gorgeous, Tesoro," Othello said in awe.
"So do you," he replied, going to his toes and kissing him on his lips.
"Are you ready to conquer the world with me, Tesoro?"
"We're bound, Othello. Anywhere you go, that is where we will be." He touched his stomach, and Othello placed a hand on top.
“Do you regret it?” Othello asked.
Des chuckled and shook his head. “I’d be a fool to regret a man who would burn the world down just for my love.”
Othello leaned down and kissed him. "Then let's go."
Hand in hand, they walked to the altar, with respected dons and business tycoons watching as they took center stage, showing the strength of their love.