Meanwhile, Michelle sat with Ray and Theresa in the dining room of the Santos home. Danny had taken Ray and Theresa's plan and revised it into a new plan all his own. Yes, he and Michelle would continue to pretend to be at odds with each other. If necessary, Michelle would leave Springfield and go to see her father in Europe as a way to get over her so called 'broken heart.'

There was one certain thing about this plan; Danny was not going to give up his wife. Somehow, he would make sure that they were together.

"Michelle, do you know why Danny has us all here?" Ray asked.

"Danny figured out that the three of us were up to something. When he confronted me about it this morning, I couldn't continue lying to him. I told him everything."

"Great!" Theresa muttered. "You've ruined the plan!"

"Theresa, Danny's got another idea. He's going to explain it to you later. He needs us to wait here for now."

"I knew we should have gone to Danny to begin with. Theresa, I still can't believe I let you talk me into going along with you in the first place," remarked Ray.

Michelle yawned and propped her head on her hands, her elbows resting on the table. She looked at Theresa pacing the room. Ray was standing by the window flipping through a book. It's going to be a long afternoon she thought to herself.

__________________

"Michelle, baby wake up!" Danny reached out and stroked the arm draped across the dining room table. That meeting had taken a lot longer than expected. Now, it was time let everyone in on his or her individual parts in the plan. Ray and Theresa were silently watching as Danny awakened his wife.

"Danny, would you please explain why Dietz drug us over here," Ray requested.

"Keep you voice down, Nino and Bernard are still here. Nino was behind the threats, wasn't he Theresa?" Danny asked.

"Yes, how did you find out?" Theresa inquired.

"I paid your father a visit this morning and let him know exactly what you've been up to in exchange for that little piece of information. Nino doesn't know that you and Ray are here. They think I left the meeting because Michelle arrived to pick up some of her things. Nino and Bernard are getting ready to witness an argument between Michelle and me.

Ray, you and Theresa need to exit out the secret tunnel and come back in the front door during the fight. Dietz will meet you out front. Play along with the act when you arrive. Nino and Bernard need to believe I'm taking control and that Michelle is out of my life.

At the end of the fight, Michelle is going to ask Dietz to drive her to the airport. He's actually going to take her to the lighthouse. Theresa will pick her up there after dark and bring her to meet me at the entrance to the tunnel. Michelle will be staying in Springfield and we will be the only ones to know about it," Danny explained.

"Danny, I'm not really comfortable with Dietz taking me to the lighthouse," Michelle replied.

"Dietz thinks he's in on my plan to take control of the business. He thinks that I'm lying to you about taking the business legit. Dietz is going to believe that he's part of a great plan for me to take over and run the business as it is. He won't be able to pass up the chance to manipulate and lie to you about the whole thing. Dietz needs to believe I trust him for this to work. I can't think of anything better than letting him think he's my right hand man; the only one outside myself who knows you're at the lighthouse. I explain more later, right now its showtime. Ray, you two need to get going."

Michelle followed Danny out of the dining room into the hallway. As they went, Michelle raised her voice and began, "That is the most ridiculous excuse I've ever heard. If you think that I'm going to believe that you had no idea Theresa was in you bed, you're wrong. I saw you together with my own two eyes and it was very apparent what you had been doing."

"Michelle, you know that I've never broken a promise to you. After that mess with Drew, I promised you I'd never betray our marriage again. You have to believe me!" Danny shouted.

Bernard and Nino stood in the doorway of the study watching as Michelle reached over and picked up a vase and lobbed it across the hallway at Danny and yelled, "You lying bastard! I told you that adultery was the one thing I'd never forgive. Now, I'm leaving."

Just then the doorbell chimed and Danny looked at Michelle and said, "Well, if you won't believe me, maybe you'll believe the our guests." Danny turned and opened to door. Dietz escorted Theresa and Ray inside.

"I can't believe you want me to listen to that slut!" Michelle exclaimed. "I'm getting out of here. Dietz, Danny sent my cab away. Would you get my bags from the foyer and put them in the car? I'll need you to drive me to the airport. I'm going to Europe to see my father. Danny, the only thing I want from you is a divorce. Ross will be in touch with you. Goodbye!"

Danny stepped between Michelle and the doorway. "Theresa, please tell Michelle what you and Ray have been up to and why," Danny stated with an icy tone.

"Ray and I set you up to find Danny and I together, Michelle. Someone was threatening to put a hit out on him because Carmen's offering to be a FBI informant in exchange for immunity for herself and Pilar for their part in Ben's death. She needs to think you are out of this family or she won't let Danny take over the business. If he's running the business her way, she can't become an informant because she'd be sending her own son to prison. If she's not an informant, a hit won't be necessary. Ray and I did all this to save Danny's life," explained Theresa.

"Ray, is this true?" Michelle asked as tears rolled down her face.

Ray simply nodded yes. Nino and Bernard came into the hallway as Michelle looked at Ray and asked, "How could you set such a thing up? I know these lies have to go against your vows."

Ray quietly whispered, "Saving my cousin's life seemed to be a lot more important than my vows."

Michelle turned towards Danny, "Okay, I believe you. Danny, tell me what exactly are you going to do now?"

"Michelle, I'm taking over the business, but now is not the time to change it. If we start changing things while Mama and Pilar are in this mess, it would just cause lots of distrust and problems among the families," Danny replied.

Bernard looked at Michelle and spoke, "Danny's right. He's got to go on just as usual to avoid having difficulties with the other families. Nino, we need to go. Danny's needs to work things out with his wife right now."

"No, stay and continue your meeting. Danny knows exactly how I feel about the business. He knows that if he's part of the business, I can't live with him as his wife. Dietz, let's go. Danny, like I said, Ross will be in touch." Michelle turned and walked out the door.

***

Michelle looked at Dietz as he drove. "Do you think Nino and Bernard bought our little act?"

"Yeah, you two put in quite a performance."

"Good, they've got to believe Danny is doing business as usual. They can't find out that he's taking the business legit."

Dietz smiled to himself and thought about how easy it was for Danny to manipulate his wife. She'll never know that Danny has no intention of changing the business. Danny can run it as usual while things are tense with the other families. Meanwhile, he's going to lie to his wife and make her believe it's going legit. As they pulled up to the lighthouse, Dietz looked at Michelle and asked, "Mrs. Santos, is there anything you need me to bring up here? It's going to be a few days before Danny can get away from the tails the other families will put on him. They don't trust him yet."

"I went to the store this morning. I think I stocked the kitchen with everything I'll need for a few days. Danny told me to call your cell phone if I need anything. I understand that Nino and Bernard need to believe I've left Danny for good before they'll believe he's going to run the business as usual. Danny told me I can't contact him directly."

Dietz nodded as he set Michelle's bags inside the door to the lighthouse. "I'll be by to check on you tomorrow. Good night," he said as he turned and walked out the door.

After closing the door, Michelle let out a deep breath. She wondered how long Dietz would keep her presence in Springfield a secret. Danny had done some digging and now believed that Dietz was the one who helped Nino set up the church bomb all those months ago. Dietz thinks he's the only one who knows I'm still in Springfield besides Danny. He won't be able to keep that to himself long, especially when he finds out Danny really is taking the business legit. If everything works out the way Danny has planned, Dietz will find himself joining Carmen in jail.

***

Danny stood just inside the entrance to the tunnel waiting. Finally, he heard the car pull up and he went out to greet his wife. "I was getting worried, what took you two so long?"

"Sorry, I was taking care of a surprise for you," Michelle replied. "Theresa, thanks for driving me over here. Ray will be picking me up here in the morning."

"Theresa, go by the rectory and tell Ray to be here at 6 AM. We can't risk Dietz finding out that you guys know Michelle is still in town.

"Okay. Danny, when are you going to let us in on the rest of this plan? I need to get back to my job in LA. How much longer are you going to need me here to help?" Theresa asked.

"I'll tell you everything tomorrow. Ray will let you know when and where we're going to meet. Good night."

Danny took Michelle's hand and they disappeared into the tunnel. Theresa muttered, "I hope you know what you're doing Danny."

They hadn't gone fifty feet into the tunnel when Danny stopped and wrapped his arms around his wife and stunned her with an intense kiss. Michelle pulled away first and said, "Let's continue this in our room."

"No, baby. We're going to continue this right here." Danny turned on his flashlight and found the blankets and pillows he'd brought down from the house. Then he began lighting the candles that he'd set all around the cave like tunnel. "Michelle, there's some wine in the..."

Before Danny could finish his sentence, his wife wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Forget the wine, I know what I'd rather have," she whimpered seductively.

Danny turned and Michelle dropped the raincoat she'd been wearing. "I hope you like your surprise." His eyes filled with desire as he realized she'd worn nothing underneath the coat. He reached and cupped her breasts in his hands and began to massage her erect nipples as their lips met. As his tongue probed her mouth, Michelle's moans of pleasure echoed through the tunnel.

Michelle began tugging at the buttons on his shirt as Danny began nipping her ear with his teeth. Michelle finally freed him of his shirt and she reached down and started unzipping his pants. She reached in and wrapped her fingers around his arousal.

Danny and Michelle dropped to their knees. As they lay back onto the pallet beneath them, Danny took her right nipple into his mouth while he reached down and began to slide his finger into her. Michelle became more and more aroused as he massaged that sensitive spot at the apex of her thighs. Danny began moving his mouth lower, teasing her navel with his tongue. Then his tongue and teeth took over the work of his fingers. Michelle was lost in the pleasure her husband was giving her.

Suddenly, his mouth was on hers. Michelle moved to roll Danny underneath her and took charge. She reached down and stroked his arousal she began kissing his neck. Moving her mouth lower over his muscular chest, Michelle felt his hands running through her hair. She paused and looked at his eyes before continuing downward and taking him into her mouth. Danny couldn't hold back as she licked and caressed his hard form.

After his climax ended, Michelle crawled up her husband's body and rested her head on his shoulder. Danny wrapped his arms around his wife. "That was the best surprise I've ever gotten," he whispered as he placed a kiss on her temple.

"Danny, I'm sorry that I went along with Ray and Theresa's plan. I know that it hurt you when I wouldn't listen to you about that night."

"Shh! That's in the past. I can think of better things to do than talk about this whole mess. Now, let me see if I can find another of your secret spots," Danny whispered as he began teasing the ticklish spot underneath her ear with his tongue.

Parts 14-16

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