Promise of Forever
      Chapter 16
 

Danny is driving to Casa Santos for his meeting with Theresa and Bernardo, his mind drifts back to the confrontation he had with Michelle after he told her she wasn’t coming with him. She was furious to say the least, but he didn’t back down, well, not completely, he thinks to himself. He smiles as he remembers the look on Michelle’s face, he loves her fire, and boy did she release it on him. He recalls her words...

“Excuse me, what the heck do you mean “You” are going to spring it on them, are you nuts! Daniel Santos, you are NOT going to stop me from going with you! We have been in this thing together all along, and I’ll be damned if you are going to go off and play cowboy, and leave me here wondering what is happening! I don’t trust them, they could hurt you and then just where the hell would I be! You best just rethink your plan, or you may just end up divorced for real Mister!”

“Are you done???” when Michelle doesn’t respond, Danny continues, “Baby, I’m not letting you go in that house with me, it’s too dangerous, plus if you are there, Theresa will know we have her and it will blow everything, we could both end up hurt.”

“But, Danny...”

“Don’t “But, Danny...”, me, you are not going! If you will be quiet I will tell you how you will still be able to know exactly what’s happening.”

“Well, excuse me Sir, please do continue,” Michelle replies sarcastically.

Danny shoots her a look, that tells her she’s about to push him to far, so she backs off a bit. “Thank you, you will be able to hear everything that is going on. My mother has her office bugged so that she could always record what’s going on if she felt it was something she could use later, there is an out building on the property that houses the equipment, so I will activate the system, and you and Harley can be there listening, that way you will know what’s happening, and be able to call help if we need it. Deal?”

“Deal, Mr. Santos, just promise me that you will be careful.”

“I promise, this will all be over in a couple of hours.”

Danny has arrived at the house, he makes sure it’s safe, and calls Michelle and tells her that she and Harley can go ahead and get to the building through the secret entrance to the property. He goes into the house and gets everything set for the meeting, just in time for Theresa and Bernardo to arrive.

“Danny, Honey, what did you need to see Poppy and I for that was so urgent?”

“Yes, Daniel, I’m not accustomed to being summoned.”

“First things first, Theresa, don’t call me “Honey”, because I will never be your “Honey” or anything else, and once we are done here you will be very sorry you ever messed with me.”

“Daniel, I will not allow you to speak to my Theresa this way!”

“Shut up, Bernardo, I’m about to be rid of you too. Just sit back and watch the show.”

Danny hits play on the VCR and the tape of Theresa and Michelle appears on the screen, Theresa turns white and looks like she’s going to pass out.

Bernardo is shocked, but moves behind his daughter placing his hands on her shoulders.

“Why, Theresa, you don’t look very well, something you see?”

“Danny, what are you doing? This means nothing”

“That’s where you are wrong, Theresa, Bernardo, this tapes releases me from our “deal”. You murdered my brother, you are lucky I don’t just kill you, but I won’t, that’s not who I am, all I want is my freedom to go be with my wife.”

“Danny, I’m your wife.”

“Wrong again, you see, our marriage was never valid, Michelle and I were never divorced or annulled. Seems there was a mistake in the papers. You see I married Bertha Michelle Bauer, and the divorce and annulment papers were dissolving the marriage of Michelle Bauer Santos and Daniel Santos, OOPS, can’t divorce a person who doesn’t legally exist!”

Theresa goes crazy hearing this news. “Danny, you son of bitch! You humiliated me again, and it’s the last time you will ever do it! If I can’t have you no one can, especially that brat Michelle,” Theresa pulls a gun and aims at Danny’s head, “I’m gonna kill you Danny, and then I’m going to make your precious Michelle suffer.”

“Theresa, don’t...”

The gun goes off and Danny’s world goes black.