the man I’ve fallen for in a way I can’t explain. Then I shift my attention to the weapon—to the shiny silver metal she’s holding in the cusp of a nervous hand, and then to the manicured finger curved over the trigger.
In a normal situation, I would challenge her—tell her she’s a joke of a woman. And that she deserves every worry my presence has added to her life. But this is not a normal situation. One wrong word, one mistaken glance, and my life could be over.
“I think you have me mistaken with someone else because I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She cocks her head. “Is that so?”
“Yes, it is so.”
“So your name isn’t Nia Fitson?” she asks.
“It is, but one thing doesn’t necessarily equate the other.”
“And you have no recollection of communication with Gildardo Botelho?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Not very smart to lie when someone is holding a gun to your chest.”
“I’m not lying. You’ve got the wrong person. I don’t recall communicating with anyone by that name.”
“Well, maybe I can refresh your memory.”
She pulls her phone from her back pocket and slides a finger over the screen. “Ah, here we go—a conversation between you and my husband on February 6th.” She runs her gaze over me again before she starts to read.
Nia: Bom dia, Papi.
Gil: Bom dia, Mami. How are you?
Nia: I’m good. How are you?
Gil: I’m good.
Nia: Did you go to bed thinking about me?
Gil: Of course I did.
Nia: Were you thinking about how badly you want to give all of your come to me?
Gil: Oh, yes, Mami! And how much I want to come in all of your holes.
Nia: Omg!! I love my dirty Brazilian!! My pussy is clenching after reading that.
Gil: I want your pussy clenching with my hard cock inside it.
Nia: You drive me crazy, baby!
Gil: I wanna drive you crazy when I slide my cock inside your mouth and then pull your head against it.
Nia: Omg! What are you trying to do?
Gil: Nothing. I’m an angel.
Nia: Omg. You’re no angel.
Gil: Lol. I wanna drive you crazy when I bend you over, spit in your ass, slide my hard cock inside your tight little hole, grab a handful of your hair, and then lean down to kiss your back.
Nia: Omg, Gil!!!! You have no idea what you are doing to me!
Gil: Okay. I’m gonna stop. Lol.
Nia: No, you aren’t. Besides, why would you? I know you love it as much as I do.
Gil: But before I stop, I wanna finish rubbing my cock against your clit and then move up to your boobs and have you stroke me until I come on them.
Nia: You want to come on my breasts?
Gil: Yes, I do. And then in your mouth. And then in your pussy. And then in your ass.
Nia: That’s a lot of come, Papi. Sounds as if you’re going to be fucking me for hours…
Gil: Yes, I am.
Nia: You promise?
Gil: Yes, I do. I wanna fuck you until your pussy is numb.
“Does any of that sound familiar?” Maricel asks, looking up from the screen.
How the fuck did she get those texts? Gil swore he’d been extra careful. And hell yes, it sounded familiar. Even amid this terrifying scenario, Gil’s words have an effect that resonates between my thighs. But instead of a confirmation, I try my hand at denial. “No, it doesn’t.”
“Sticking with the lie, huh? Where’s your phone? Maybe we can take a look at the dick pics he’s sent or the video he sent jerking himself off for you.”
“I have nothing to do with you and your relationship with your husband. If you have a problem with him, I suggest you take it up with him.”
“No, bitch,” she says and takes a step toward me. “I’m taking it up with both of you.”
“He made vows to you, not me.”
“Oh, so, you think that makes what you did okay? Because it fucking doesn’t. Every day since finding out about you, I’ve been living with his betrayal. Knowing that he’d rather be with you than me. That he wakes up with you on his mind. Messaging you when he’s at home, when he’s in our bed, when he’s in the shower, when he’s at work, even when he’s out with me—it’s you who’s on his mind. Do you know what that has done to me? And the things he’s said to you—I can recite a few of his messages by heart. Wanna know why?”
I don’t answer her question—not because I think it’s rhetorical, but