Tricked

"I know what you're trying to do," Elizabeth said, a cold smile crossing her pouty lips. "You're trying to trick me. It won't work."

Alex stared at her as the butterflies swam in his stomach like leaves blown by a strong wind. His hand fumbled at the knife he held behind his back. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he replied as she inched closer. The smell of whiskey on her breath permeated the air like insecticide. "Just come here and we can talk about this."

She was right. He was trying to trick her. If she'd just come closer...

Elizabeth's eyes burned into his. "Talk about this?" Her hands clenched tight, fingernails drawing blood from the soft skin of her palm. "You want to TALK about this?" She could feel her heart pounding inside her chest, her body shaking with murderous rage.

She's going to kill me, Alex thought as he clutched tighter at his knife. Closer...

"You want to TALK." Her voice was louder now, almost a scream. "You slept with another woman! In our bed! On our ANNIVERSARY!" Red hot tears poured down her face like a river dripping down her chin. Her hand reached into her purse for the gun she concealed, her mental foothold fading. Alex's breath caught in his throat.

"Liz...," Alex choked out. "Don't."

"Don't what?!" She raised the gun, cocking the trigger back, aiming for his chest. "Don't what, Alex?!"

He took a step towards her, raising his free hand in surrender. Just a little closer...

It's going to be her or me, he thought.

"Please, baby," Alex soothed as he readied the knife. One more step. "I'm sor--"

Liz dropped to her knees, wailing as the gun fell smoking from her hands.