Living Without
Part Twenty-Three
There was an unbearable ache in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't take another look into the room. He wished the bullet had pierced his chest instead of his arm. His children were gone and so was Michelle.
Ramírez wanted nothing more than to have his Alejandra married to the man of her choice. It didn't matter how he'd make it happen. He openly attested to how far he was seriously willing to go to make and keep his only daughter happy. Even if that meant killing innocent children. Danny's innocent children.
Escobar never cared much for Danielle or Michael and it was plenty obvious how he felt about Michelle. Whatever threats fell from his mouth, he meant them. He was never one to speak and not act.
The more Danny thought about it, the less pain he felt. Anger now consumed him. He shrugged Juan's arm off and abruptly stood, turning and stepping away from the shot up room. Tears that threatened to pour from him were no longer present. His eyes were dark and sharp, and his breathing deep and slow.
Graciela rushed into the house, her chest heaving up and down as she tried to catch her breath. She had ran her entire way there from the main quarters, trying to catch up with them. She stopped short of Danny, who was coming in her direction with revenge etched across his face.
"Daniel," she approached and tried to speak to him, but his voice remained unheard. "Darling, I'm sorry..."
"Danny!" Juan called and motioned for him to come back to the room. Once he and Graciela were by his side, he asked them to stay quiet and listen. "Do you hear that?"
It was faint, but they could hear it nonetheless.
"Dani?" Danny called and was about to step into the room when he was held back.
"It could be a trap!" Juan told him.
"Daddy..."
"Dani!!" Danny responded from the door, his eyes darting in every direction of the room. "Dani!!"
"Daddy!" her voice came again and Danny finally caught sight of her little body emerging from under the bed.
Danny broke past Juan and into the room, making his way to his daughter and he looked under the bed to find that Michelle and Michael were there as well.
"They're here!!" he yelled and Juan and Graciela rushed in. "Don't cry, baby. Daddy's right here."
"I can't get out..." Danielle cried.
"Don't worry. I'll get you out. All of you," he told her. "Don't cry...." he was saying and he stood, painfully straining with the aid of Juan to lift the bed and its large frame from over them with one arm.
Once that was out of the way, his children rushed into his arms and he kissed them all over the place, some of his blood smearing their small faces.
"Oh my God...oh my God," Danny chanted between breaths, his arms tightly wrapped around his children, their little arms around his neck. "I'm so glad you two are alright."
Juan helped Michelle to her feet and over to a seat. Her eyes were fixated on Danny and their children. She didn't hear a single word Juan had said to her and didn't even realize that she had moved until Graciela embraced her.
"Oh! Ohhh!" Graciela was at a loss for words, tears rolling down her face as she took a look at Michelle and then embraced her again. "We thought...it doesn't matter what we thought! Are you okay?"
"What happened to Danny?" Michelle absent-mindedly asked, her attention still on him.
"Daddy, you blood!" Michael shrieked. "Me blood!"
Both children went ballistic when they saw that they had been stained reddish brown. Danny tried to calm them down, but neither would stop their blood curdling screams.
Michelle covered her face with both hands. Their hysterics were reminiscent of the very ones that pierced her soul the moment those shots bolted through the windows of the room, violently pulling them out of their peaceful repose. Her screaming children and her panicked heart rendered her deaf to everything. She couldn't think straight. She had become frozen to the bed, but was pulled out of her temporary state of paralysis when she realized that she wasn't the only person in the room.
Michelle grabbed her screaming babies, pulling them off the top of the bed and sent them underneath. She tried everything she could to calm them down, but was unsuccessful. Danielle continuously shrieked at the top of her lungs and Michael cried against her mother's chest. How did she expect them to be calm when she couldn't even say a word without tripping over a syllable?
The shots were loud, near, and never-ending. Although it couldn't have lasted longer than a minute, it seemed like forever. Crystal antique vases and glass from the windows noisily shattered and fell around them. Michelle pulled her children to the middle and away from the sides of the bed to prevent them from getting hit by any of the falling rubble, holding them close.
Footsteps could be heard once the firing war ceased and Michelle begged both children to be as still and quiet as they possibly could, telling them that they may never see Danny again if they didn't.
"I'm not trying to scare you, but if we don't do this and they hear us, we will not be able to go back home," Michelle's voice cracked as she told them. "And we have to make it back. We can't let the bad guys get us. Okay? No matter what they say or do, don't make a sound..." *
Graciela rushed over to try her luck in calming them down. Michelle removed her hands from her face and watched as her children clung to Danny. This was breaking her heart.
"I'm okay!" Danny told them. "I am! It's just a wound. It'll heal. I'll be fine..."
"Daddy, are you gonna die?!" Danielle panicked.
"Daddy no die!" Michael cried.
"No!! I'm not dying!" Danny assured them. "Look, I'm here! No one is going to hurt you."
"We need to call the doctor..." Danielle told him.
"Baby, I'm okay," he reiterated, kissing the side of his girl's head. "Are you alright?" he asked and her could feel her nodding.
Danielle's arms tightened around him and Danny flinched in pain, holding back an attempt to cry out. He carefully brought his arms up around his girl and boy, closing his eyes as he silently thanked God for keeping them safe.
When his eyes reopened, they drifted over to Michelle, who was still staring at them, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Danny tried to pry his children off of him, but they wouldn't let go. Graciela gave him a hand and the kids kicked and screamed, not wanting to leave.
"Daddy!!!" Michael yelled in terror.
"Baby, it's okay!"
"Daddy!!" Danielle was crying also and Danny stood up to take them both back from Graciela.
"Phone the main house," he told Juan. "Tell them to pack up our things. We'll be leaving tonight," he said and when Juan didn't move, Danny repeated his last comment with more authority. "We'll be leaving tonight. My children's lives have been in enough danger! I'm not going to argue this with you too!" he added and Juan looked away from him, not saying a word as he exited the bedroom with Graciela.
Danny walked the children over to the opposite side of the room and sat them down in a chair. He told them to remain in place and to stop worrying about him. He wasn't going anywhere and he wasn't going to die.
"I'm going to be right over there," he pointed as he wiped their faces clean and kissed them both before heading over to Michelle. "Chelle?" he touched her face and she raised her head to see him kneeling at her feet. Her tears had fallen and Danny brought a hand up to wipe away one that was streaming down her cheek.
She searched his eyes as he searched hers and new tears quickly formed. She fell into his arms and wrapped hers around him and he did the same, holding her close. He could feel her body shake in his arms and his tears too rushed to the surface.
"I'm so glad you're alright," he whispered breathlessly.
"I was so scared," she told him as she sobbed. "I thought we were going to die..."
"I wouldn't let that happen. Never," Danny told her.
"Why we were fired at? Who were those people?"
"They won't hurt you," Danny said as he tried to pull away from her, but her grip tightened around him.
"Don't let me go," Michelle begged. "Please, don't let me go."
"I won't," Danny buried his head in her neck. "I won't."
*
Danny emerged from the room with Danielle, followed by Michelle and Michael, who was in her arms. Everyone was quiet, including Juan who was standing by a window and staring out into the darkness. Danny left Danielle with Michelle and approached him.
"Where's my aunt?"
"She returned to the house to be with Mr. Santos," Juan replied, turning to face Danny. "Everything okay with them?" he asked as he motioned with his head in the direction of Michelle and the children.
"So far, so good," Danny replied.
"How about you? How's the arm?"
"I'd be screaming bloody murder if it weren't for them," Danny answered.
"You're bloody enough as it is. You really need to get that out," Juan said, referring to the bullet.
"I need to get my kids out of here. Is the car ready?" Danny asked and Juan answered with a silent nod.
Danny headed over to where Michelle was sitting with Danielle and Michael. "Come on. Let's go," he said to the children, taking his son from Michelle and grabbing a hold of his daughter's little hand.
"Where are you taking them?" Michelle asked as Danny started for the door. "Danny!!" she jumped to her feet and rushed over to them.
She got in front of him and prevented them from continuing out the door. Her upcoming questions were momentarily silenced when she caught a glimpse of her angels' faces, their eyes red and puffy from the crying they had been doing.
"Everything is okay now," she said while staring at Michael who was in his daddy's arms. "I promised that we would be okay, right?" she asked and they nodded. "I don't ever break a promise and neither does your Daddy."
"I'll take them," Juan came over and took Michael from Danny and held Danielle's hand.
"Go ahead," Danny told them. "I'll be right behind you."
"What's going on here, Danny?" Michelle asked as soon as the children were far enough not to hear what she was saying. "Why were we shot at?? Why was Juan with a gun?? Don't look at me like I'm crazy! I saw it! He had it tucked in the band of his pants!"
"You don't know what you saw, Michelle..."
"Don't do that, Danny!" she told him through clenched teeth while pointing at him.
"Don't do what?"
"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about!" she yelled. "I know what I saw and it was a gun! We were shot at! It would make that he'd have a weapon to defend himself," she paused. "Why aren't you answering me?"
"Get your things and let's go," Danny said, trying to grab a hold of her, but she moved away. "Go get your things and let's go!"
"Where are they going??" Michelle asked. "Danny, answer me!"
"They're going home."
Michelle's mouth was agape. "You can't take them back there!!"
"Where are your things? In the room?" Danny asked as he went into the bedroom and reemerged a short moment later with her bags.
"After what I'm not sure just happened here, you are not taking them back to your mother's house!" Michelle yelled at him.
"This is not up for discussion, Michelle!" he said as he breezed past her and out the door. "They are going and that's final!"
"Don't you pull that 'that's final' bullshit with me!" Michelle hissed as she went after him, closing the robe to her night gown while hurrying behind him. "They are my children too and I do have a say in this!" she got in front of him. "I don't care what you say, Danny. They are not going back to your mother's."
"They will be safe there!"
"They will be safe no where with your family!" she countered. "No where. This is your family's estate..."
"My uncle's estate," Danny corrected.
"He's your family," Michelle continued. "If those men managed to get onto his property, what makes you think that they won't be able to get onto Carmen's? I don't even know what's going on!"
"You have nothing to worry about," Danny told her. "We're safe now."
"Safe?! Nothing to worry about?!" she incredulously asked. "Our children were shot at, Danny!! I have everything to worry about!"
"Those punks are gone now," he said as he continued past her and resumed his march towards the main house.
"Why were we targets?? Daniel!" she called, running to catch up with him. "Danny," she grabbed a hold of his arm and turned him around. "I'm really scared..."
"You don't need to be-"
"But I am and I want to know why! Look at you! You look like you just got out of a boxing match with Mike Tyson!" Michelle said to him, her eyes moving away from his face when something else caught her attention. She looked down at her hand to see that it was wet with blood. She then raised her eyes to Danny's arm.
"Oh, my God!" she exclaimed. "Oh, my God! Danny, you've been shot!"
"It's nothing," he attempted to cover it up, but she moved his hand away.
"How can you say that?? You've got a bullet in your arm!" Michelle cried, taking her bags from him and dropping them to the ground. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"It's no big deal," Danny tried to play it off. "It doesn't even hurt..."
"The hell it doesn't! No wonder you were bleeding so much..." her voice trailed off as she tried to get a better look of his wound, but he wouldn't let her touch it. "Someone has to check that out!"
"I will manage just fine," Danny said as he reached for her bags, but she got them instead.
"And to think that I believed this was the last place anyone would expect to hear gun shots. How stupid that was of me! The estate is owned by a Santos after all," she remarked while walking up the paved walkway.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Danny asked as he followed her.
"I think you already know," Michelle said and she stopped to look at him. "Why were we shot at, Danny??" she asked him again and he sighed. "This has something to do with that wife of yours, doesn't it??"
"We're not married..."
"Yet," Michelle completed. "Her father is after us, isn't he? Isn't he??" she asked, but Danny refused to answer. "We've got two kids who are scared out of their wits and they aren't the only ones!" her voice rose once again. "Is this the kind of life you're giving them?? Is it?! What the hell kind of father are you?! Your kids' lives are in danger and you're shrugging it off as if it's another day in the amusement park!"
"That is not what I'm doing!!" Danny finally snapped. "And don't you dare question my devotion to my children or their well-being! I have sacrificed more for those two than you will ever be able to imagine or understand! Do you think I took this bullet for nothing?! That I decided to become some guy's bunching bag as a part time occupation?!"
"I didn't say that..."
"You really want an answer?? I'll give you one!" Danny droned on. "Yes, those men were sent by Alejandra's father. They came to do a job assigned by him, but fortunately they didn't get to finish it."
"They were after the kids?" Michelle asked and Danny stared at her for a while, his mind lingering on the question and then he broke out of his trance and started for the main quarters.
"Danny!! Danny, please answer me," Michelle begged. "Were they after the children? After you?" she asked and Danny kept walking. "God, Danny! Why are you doing this to me?! I can't lose my babies..."
"You won't," he said.
"I can't help if I don't know what's going on..."
"You can't help even if you did."
"I need to know and you need to tell me," Michelle said. "One of those bullets could've hit either one of them!"
"But it didn't!"
"Is that what it would take to get you to talk? To get them out of this life that you promised they would never be a part of??" Michelle asked and Danny sighed heavily. "If their lives are in danger, I have a right to know..."
"It's better that you don't..."
"I want you to stop protecting me and let me help you for once!" she cut him off. "You're not invincible. I think you know that now," she said, referring to his wound. "You can't do this alone."
When they reached the glass less patio doors of the main quarters, Danny stopped to look at Michelle. She was truly concerned. He could see it in her eyes. He could hear it in her voice. There was no need keeping the truth from her any longer. After this attempt on her life, she needed to know what was really going on.
"I'll tell you," he said to her and Michelle released a sigh of relief. He motioned for her to enter through the frame of the door before he, and once she had safely stepped over the broken glass, he followed suit.
**
Michelle escorted Danny into one of the unoccupied bedrooms and helped him climb into the bed. As he laid back against the pillows, she rushed all about him, stripping away any excess bedding that was present and tossing them to the floor.
"Comfortable?" she asked while nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
Danny's eyes followed her as she crossed the room to grab a much larger first aid kit that Graciela had kept there.
"I'll be very comfortable once this bullet is out my arm," he spoke.
"It will be. Soon," Michelle added, coming to sit down next to him. She attempted to unbutton his shirt, but her fingers were doing a dance number she couldn't seem to get them out of.
"You're shaking," Danny whispered as he placed a hand over both of hers, bringing an end to her futile attempt to get his shirt off. Her eyes flew up to his face and they met with his.
The two became immersed in a momentary trance, one which was soon broken by the sudden slam of a door, and Michelle nearly jumped out of her skin. She instantly pulled her hands from Danny's grasp and stood from the bed.
"I'm fine, Danny," she barely uttered as she opened the first aid kit and pulled a few things out.
"You're terrified..."
"Considering the circumstance, you can't really blame me," Michelle spoke, her voice raising a bit.
"I don't," Danny said. "Everyone is a bit shaken right now."
"I think we're more than just shaken," she remarked as she unwound a roll of adhesive tape and cut up a few strips.
"Almost ready here," Graciela said, coming into the room with a basin filled with hot water and a couple of wash cloths.
"How are Michael and Danielle? Are they okay?" Michelle asked her.
"They're fine. Ana's with them. They really want to see Daniel," Graciela replied as she carefully sat the basin on the night stand that was closer to Danny. "How are you holding up?" she asked, stroking her nephew's forehead.
"Good, considering. How's uncle?"
"He is just fine. Don't worry about him or anything else and focus on yourself right now. Your uncle is doing enough worrying for the both of you."
"He should be taking care of that gash to his arm," Danny said.
"Gusto won't listen to reason," Graciela remarked. "He has already contacted the hospital. They're expecting you both within the hour."
"I'm not going to the hospital."
"Danny!" Michelle exclaimed. "You have to go!"
"What I have to do is rid myself of this annoyance in my arm and get back to Springfield!" Danny told her. "I'm not wasting a moment in any hospital. I need to deal with those bastards who chose to use my family for target practice!"
"And you're going to do that with your arm falling off?" Michelle asked. "Yes, Danny. It could fall off if it doesn't get some attention!"
"How much more attention can the people there give me that you aren't already giving me here?" he asked. "You'll take the bullet out," he said and Michelle gasped in disbelief.
"Me??"
"It's either you or Juan, and I'd rather not go with the latter. If I did, I'd then be worried about losing an arm," Danny remarked.
Michelle contemplated his request for a moment, pacing away from him and back again with a hand to her head, and she exhaled upon making her decision.
"Alright," she agreed. "Okay, I'll do this if that's what you want."
"Are you sure you can do it?" Graciela asked.
"I can," Michelle replied simply. "Are you ready?" she asked Danny.
"Are you?" he asked back and she was silent.
"Honey, if you can't..." Graciela started.
"I said that I could and I will," Michelle interceded. "I'll need a few things before I can start," she said, tearing her eyes away from Danny to look at Graciela.
"Name it."
"Well, the kit is missing some alcohol..."
"Will iodine do?" Graciela asked.
"How much do you have?" Michelle inquired and she showed her how big the bottle was with her index and thumb. "That won't be enough. Do you have any wine?"
"Of course, we have wine! There is a whole cellar in the basement," Graciela replied.
"I'll need a bottle," Michelle said. "And a sterile knife," she added and Graciela looked at her with wide eyes. "I have to get that bullet out," she told her and the woman nodded in agreement.
"What are you two whispering about over there?" Danny asked and Michelle quickly glanced back at him before moving with Graciela to the door.
"And could you please send Juan up here? I think I'm gonna need him."
"He will come with all you requested. Is there anything else?"
"No matter what is going on in here, you have to please keep Dani and Michael away," Michelle told her. "They can't see their daddy like this."
"I'll be sure to keep them occupied. You be careful with Daniel," Graciela spoke while heading out the door and patting Michelle on the shoulder. "He trusts you," she gave a comforting smile and then exited.
Michelle came back into the room, carefully shutting the door behind her and she leaned against it for support. Her eyes were closed and when she opened them, she found Danny watching her. Uncomfortable, she averted her attention elsewhere and headed straight for the kit.
"If you don't mind, Mr. Santos, your shirt must come off," she remarked as she unwound some bandages and gauze. She could still feel his penetrating stare as she did this and she stopped to look at him. "Didn't you hear me?" she asked.
"They're just fine, Michelle," Danny said and she immediately returned to the bandages. "They'll be alright..."
"No one can convince me of that. You weren't there!" she pointed. "You didn't hear them screaming. It was so loud and I couldn't get them to stop," her voice cracked. "I felt so useless to them...."
"Come here," Danny ordered and Michelle came to sit next to him on the bed.
"I didn't know what to do," she continued to cry as he pulled her into an embrace. "You should have heard them, Danny. They were horrified. I've never been so scared in my life."
"I'm sorry," Danny whispered into her ear. "I'm sorry. It's over now..."
"It's not!" Michelle pulled away from him. "Your fiancée's father sent those men for a reason and he won't stop until he gets what he wants!"
"C'mon! You don't know that..."
"I do know that!" she seethed. "Being around your mother has taught me a thing or two about the mob and revenge and I know this man is after something! Now what is it? You said you'd tell me!"
"I can't," Danny said following a long pause.
"You mean you won't."
"Michelle, it's complicated."
"Then simplify it for me," she told him as she once again stood from the bed. "Please, feel free to start sometime today," she remarked when he said nothing. "You have my undivided attention."