Promise of Forever
Parts 12-13
By Kelly
Danny and Michelle fell asleep in each othersarms, exhausted from not only the exquisite love they made, but also, from thepain they both suffered learning the truth about Mick's death.
Michelle stirs in Danny's arms, a slow smilecrosses her face when she thinks about how much she loves this man, and howeverytime they make love it is like the first time, then she realizes how lateit is.
"Danny, Danny, wake up!"
"Hmmmm, what, what's wrong, baby, shhh, goback to sleep."
"Danny, no, you have to get up, it's pastmidnight, you gotta get out of here!"
Danny is fully awake now, "Why do I haveto leave?", wrapping his arms around Michelle he tries to pull her backdown to him, "Come here, I'm not going anywhere, and now that I'mawake....., he says with a sexy grin.
"Danny, I'm serious, Theresa is going tobe furious."
"Michelle, I don't give a damn about whatshe thinks, I'm staying here with you, it will be fine, I promise."
"How can you say that?"
"Well, you did notice the candles, rosesand champagne when you came in right?"
"Yes....."
"I had a celebration planned for us,Honey, I finally have all the information I need to nail Bernardo, we arefinally free, so you see, I don't have to leave."
Michelle falls on top of Danny kissing him."You do? This is great! Plus we have Theresa's confession, they will neverbe able to get out of this."
"Babe, we can't use that confession.Theresa and Bernardo will deny it, they will say the tape is a fake, and thatyou are just trying to get rid of her and absolve your guilt for killingMick."
"No, Danny, I heard her, Kevin was therehe heard it all."
"Baby, it's not enough, Kevin works forme, it will be your word against hers. There is only one way to make sureTheresa pays for what she did to Mick, to you and to me."
"NO, Danny! You can't do that, I won't letyou. I will not let you handle this the "family" way, you are not thatman, no matter what I will not let you do this."
"Michelle, stop, you know me, no matterhow much I would love to see that miserable bitch dead, you know, I could neverkill anyone in cold blood. Baby, I can't believe you would think that. We needto get Theresa to confess again but this time with the police watching."
Michelle moves to kneel in front of Danny,"I'm sorry Danny, I know you would never kill anyone, I just got scared fora minute. Can you forgive me?"
Danny takes Michelle's face in his hands, andlooks into her eyes, "It's already forgotten Baby, I'm sorry I scaredyou."
"Danny, does it have to be the police thatwitness her confession?"
"It should be someone"official", someone with no vested interest, why who did you have inmind?"
"How about a private investigator?"
"Yeah, that would work, I'll find onefirst thing in the morning."
"Don't bother, I already have one in mindand I know we can trust her to help us and not screw anything up."
"Who?"
"Harley Spaulding, she's the best, plusshe's an ex-cop, so she will know just what to do. I'll call her in themorning."
"OK, if we do this right, by the end ofthe week we will be free. Now come back here and let me hold you."
"That sounds perfect, goodnight, Mr.Santos, I love you."
"I love you too, Mrs. Santos.
___________________________________
Michelle woke the next morning still in Danny'sarms. A slow smile crossed her face as she looked up at him.
"Morning, Sexy."
"Morning Danny. I have missed this somuch."
"I know Baby, so have I, but soon we willbe able to wake up like this every morning."
"How long have you been awake?"
"About an hour."
"An hour! Danny, why didn't you wakeme?"
"Mmmm, I just wanted to watch you sleep,I've missed it so much. You know I always used to watch you sleeping, you are sobeautiful, watching you is like heaven to me. I just love to look at youremembering every detail of your face."
Michelle looks at him with tears in her eyes,"Danny, I love you so much, you know that don't you?"
"Yes, Baby, I do, and I love you too, morethan my own life." Danny draws her up to him giving her a soft kiss. Theirkiss begins to turn more passionate, but Michelle pulls away.
"Danny, as much as I would love to stayhere with you in this bed all day, we need to get up and get going. We have tomeet with Harley and set this plan in motion. I want to get rid of Theresa andBernardo as soon as possible."
Danny gives her the puppy dog eyes,"Please, Michelle, can't we stay here just a little longer?"
"Now Danny, you know I can't resist youwhen you look at me that way, heck, I can't resist you when you look at me anyway," she says with a smile, "but, how about you join me in theshower, and then when we get done with our meeting, if it doesn't take too long,we can come back here and I will reward you for being a good boy."
"Well, that's not exactly what I had hopedfor, but if you insist."
"That's, my Danny, now come on, letsgo."
Michelle and Danny climb into the showertogether, Danny tries everything in his power to get Michelle to cave in and lethim make love to her. Michelle almost gives in, but she knows their loving willkeep, right now they have to get rid of Theresa and Bernardo for good, then thecan make love for the rest of their lives.
"Danny, you are so bad! You know I wouldmuch rather be making love to you then going to this meeting right?"
"I know, I know, but you can't blame a guyfor trying. Your body is just so perfect you drive me to distraction."
"Why, Mr. Santos, the things you say! But,you know, you do the same thing to me. Now let's get over to Harley's so we canget back here, and finish our "business".
"I'll follow you to the ends of the earth,Mrs. Santos."
Michelle and Danny arrive at Harley andPhillip's a short time later.
"Hi, Michelle and Danny, I must say I'msurprised to see the two of you here together. What is it you need my help with?Your divorce is final, and I don't understand why you would need my detectiveskills."
"Actually, Harley, I can explain, but youhave to promise not to tell anyone even Phillip."
"Michelle, if I'm working for you it willbe confidential, even Phillip won't know what's going on. So please fill mein."
"Harley, Danny and I aren't reallydivorced."
"What?!"
"Baby, let me take it from here. Harley,Michelle and I had to fake our divorce in order to protect Michelle from theSandoval family."
"The Sandoval Crime family?"
"Yes, the one and only."
"Danny, I don't get it, I thought you wereout of the "business"."
"I am, but when Michelle was convicted Igot desperate and I went to Bernardo for help, I offered him all of Carmen'sbusiness if he would get Michelle released. But, that wasn't enough forBernardo, he wanted me to marry his daughter, Theresa as part of the deal, tomake up for my having destroyed her "honor" years ago. I told him noway, no deal, but Theresa went behind my back and told her father I accepted. Ibroke Michelle out, then Vanessa woke up and told the whole story, my motherconvinced the judge she was crazy and got sent to the mental hospital, andMichelle's conviction was overturned. Bernardo came after us, he said I stillowed him, I told him no, he did nothing to save Michelle. He said he had startedhis plan in motion when I took off with her, so I still had to marry Theresa orMichelle would be killed. So we got Ross to file the divorce papers, but heburied something in them so that the divorce wasn't valid, my cousin Ray fakedannulment papers, and Michelle and I were "divorced", we planned toget all the info we needed on Bernardo's business to bring them down and I havethat, but Michelle discovered something more. It seems that she didn't kill mybrother Mick, Theresa did."
"Your kidding?"
"No, Harley, he's not. Listen tothis."
Michelle played the tape of Theresa'sconfession to Harley. "Well, I guess that says it all, so what do you needme for?"
"Harley, Danny doesn't think the tape andmy word will do it, Bernardo will find a way out of it, he'll say I created thetape somehow, because I hate Theresa for stealing Danny away from me. So, weneed you to help us get her."
"OK, I'm in. I think we need to get her toconfess, but this time we need it on video tape. Do you think you can get her toadmit it again, Michelle?"
"I will try, she was gloating the wholetime she was telling me, so I'm sure she'd love the opportunity to rub it in myface again."
"Good, we need to get her to meet yousomewhere that's not public. Do you have any ideas?"
"How about I get her to come to theapartment over the garage at Rick and Abby's, it's empty now that Selena movedout. Plus there is a closet you could hide in with the camera."
"I remember that closet from when I livedthere with Alan-Michael, that will be perfect. When do you want to dothis?"
"The sooner the better, how about I callTheresa right now?"
"No time like the present."
"Danny, you're awfully quiet, Honey, areyou OK with this?"
"Not really, I don't like you meeting withher again, I don't want her to hurt you anymore than she already has. I want tobe there too."
"Danny, no, that's not necessary, Harleywill be there, and I'm worried about your temper."
"Michelle I promise to stay in the bedroomand keep my temper in check, please I just don't want you there alone."
"Yes, I guess I would feel better, andstronger, knowing you were there. But, no matter what she says or does, you havestay out of sight or everything will be ruined."
"I promise."
"Let's get this done then," Michellepicks up the phone and dials Theresa's number, "Theresa? This is MichelleSantos, we need to meet.....I really don't care what you think......Well,knowing what I know, I think it's in your best interest to meet me....I thoughtyou'd see it my way......You know where my brother's house is?.....Meet metheir, in the apartment over the garage.....2 hours, that will be perfect."
"Well, guys, we're all set, let's go setour trap."