Chapter 20: Breaking Free

The weeks passed quietly after Ana's release, though Maria and Danny's lives were anything but idle. They had been on high alert, following updates on the case against Miguel Gutierrez and his gang affiliates. With Maria's third trimester approaching, the weight of the twins felt both literal and figurative. Between doctors' appointments, long hours, and the looming case, they hadn't yet held a baby shower or even done the gender reveal.

On the day of Miguel's planned takedown, Frank insisted that Maria and Danny observe the operation from the safety of headquarters. Tensions ran high as the operation unfolded, but relief swept over the entire Reagan family as Miguel was finally arrested, facing a long list of charges. The DA's office, led by Erin, was ready to take him to trial, with Ana prepared to testify.

The following day, Erin invited Maria and Eddie to a ladies' brunch to catch up and discuss the baby shower plans. The restaurant's lively buzz set a warm tone as they discussed decorations, guest lists, and menu options.

"So, Maria," Eddie said, reaching for her glass of water, "Are you finally going to tell us if you know the genders of these babies?"

Maria chuckled. "Honestly, we haven't decided. Danny likes the idea of waiting until the birth. But… it's getting harder not to sneak a peek at the ultrasound results."

"Well, either way, you'll be the best mom," Erin said, giving her a warm smile. "And I think the suspense is exciting."

As they laughed and talked, Erin's phone buzzed with a call. Excusing herself, her expression quickly changed, and she returned to the table looking shaken.

"What happened?" Maria asked, immediately concerned.

"Miguel Gutierrez was released on bail due to some technical error and….," Erin said, her voice tight.

"What is it Erin? Did he hurt someone?" Maria asks, her voice full of worry.

Erin hesitates briefly before continuing, "No, uh… Carmen Baez is the one who posted his bail."

Maria froze, her mind racing. "My mom bailed him out? She refuses to bail out my sister, her own daughter mind you, yet she'll bail that piece of crap out? Why?" Maria rubs her temples, clearly frustrated with this new revelation. She then looks up, "Do you think he knows Ana is going to testify against him? He's not gonna stop until he finds her. He'll be after us too" Maria says, concerned .

Eddie put a hand on Maria's shoulder. "Let's not panic. The detectives are searching for him. And Carmen, too," Erin says, reaching a hand out to Maria.

"We've got your back, Maria," Eddie says, "They will have to go through all of us before they could ever get to you," Eddie adds.

Maria looks down, her brows furrowed, taking in deep breaths to calm herself, "I don't want anyone or any of you to get hurt on my account. It shouldn't have to come down to that."

"Maria, we're family. Heck let's face it, you've been a part of this family since before you and Danny ever became a couple," Eddie says. "I get where you're coming from though. Trust me, I do. Before I got together with Jaime, it was just me against the world for a very long time. I felt like there was no one in my corner, much less any family or person in my corner to have my back. I struggled to let this family in and help me fight whatever problems came my way. But I assure you when they say they would fight and protect their own, they mean it wholeheartedly. And I know you would do the same if it was any of us in a similar situation as you are in right now."

"Of course I would," Maria says.

"There you go, it's settled then. No more feeling guilty or bad for protecting you and the babies, okay?" Erin chimes in.

"You're right, both of you," Maria breathes out. "And thank you both for all of this—the planning, I don't think I could have done any of this without you two."

"Anytime," Eddie says.

"That's what sisters are for," Erin says. "Lets promise to have frequent get-togethers like this. It's so nice when it's just us girls."

"Yes, I agree," Eddie says with a smile. "Count me in. I mean I love Jaime, with all my heart. But sometimes a girl just needs to have some time with just the girls."

Erin and Maria smile, laughing softly at Eddie's last statement.

"Count me in too," Maria smiles, "Even though it'll be with two crying babies in the near future."

"Oh absolutely. I can't wait," Erin says with a big smile. "Eddie will take one kid, and I'll take the other while you sit back and relax, sipping on your much deserved mimosas. You'll be needing a break from time to time, trust me."

"You forgot about the other kid," Maria replies.

"What other kid?" Eddie asks, shooting a quick look at Erin and then Maria.

"Danny, of course," Maria says jokingly. The ladies burst out laughing.

"I say we leave Pops to take care of that one. We'll drop him off at the house, with a bottle of his favorite whiskey as payment." Erin adds, laughing. The ladies continued with their brunch a little while longer, Maria grateful for this moment where all worries and concerns about Miguel and her mom were long forgotten.

—-

The days that followed were tense, but the Reagans rallied to ensure Maria's baby shower went ahead as planned. By the day of the shower, friends and family had gathered in a bright, cozy hall, decked with flowers and pastel decorations. Maria was starting to relax, enjoying the love and joy that filled the room.

As the party wound down, Maria noticed Eddie on edge, glancing toward the doors. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Eddie frowned. "I don't know, but… I've got a weird feeling. Hold on a second."

Just as Eddie stepped away, shouting erupted from outside. Maria's heart dropped when she heard a familiar voice — her mother's, angry and demanding.

"Where's Maria? I need to talk to her! You can't keep her from me!" Carmen's voice was frantic, her tone sharp and desperate.

Maria exchanged a tense look with Erin, who put a protective arm around her. "Stay calm. It's just your mom. She won't get past security."

But Maria felt a gnawing sense of dread. She whispered to Eddie, "I have this horrible feeling that Miguel Gutierrez is out there too. Be on alert."

—

Meanwhile, Danny and the Reagan men were at a nearby pub, unwinding after the intense week. Danny, who had been laughing with Jamie, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He checked his phone for messages, but his gut told him something wasn't right. He calls Maria's phone, but the call goes to voicemail after a few rings.

"Everything okay, Danny?" Jamie asked, noticing his expression.

Danny frowned. "I don't know. I have a bad feeling about Maria."

At that exact moment, Jamie's phone rang. It was Eddie. "Jaime," she said urgently, "You need to get over here. There's something going on outside."

Without hesitation, Danny and Jamie bolted from the pub, sprinting down the block to the event hall. As they neared the building, Danny spotted Carmen arguing with security, but what made his blood run cold was the sight of Miguel, striding toward Carmen with fury in his eyes and a gun in his hand.

"Jaime!" Danny shouted, "Miguel's got a gun!"

Both men drew their weapons, shouting for Miguel to drop his. The crowd scattered, screams echoing in the street, but Carmen remained rooted in place, frozen in fear. Danny tried to get her attention.

"Carmen! Get out of the way!"

But she seemed paralyzed, torn between Danny and Miguel, her gaze flickering between them in terror. Miguel's face twisted in rage, and before Danny could react, Miguel aimed his gun at Carmen and fired.

"Carmen!" Danny's shout was filled with shock as he fired back, striking Miguel in the shoulder. But Miguel still managed to escape, disappearing down the street.

Danny and Jaime rushed to Carmen, and Danny knelt beside her, pressing down on the bleeding wound. Jaime called for an ambulance.

"Stay with me, Carmen," Danny said firmly as he worked to stop the bleeding. "Help is on the way."

Carmen winced, looking at him with pain in her eyes. "Why… why are you helping me?"

"I'm doing this for Maria," Danny replied quietly. "And because you might not believe it, but I'm not as cold-hearted as you think."

Danny tried to question her, asking where she'd been hiding with Miguel. Carmen, her voice fading, gave him an address, she had stayed with a relative in Queens. She had said that she never knew where Miguel was staying, and said he took off the moment after she bailed him out. The ambulance arrived moments later, and as they took Carmen to the hospital, Danny called detectives in the car with all the information Carmen had mentioned. Frank arrives at the same moment and he pulls Danny aside.

"Follow up with Maria and make sure she's alright," Frank said. "I'll stay with Carmen until they can stabilize her."

Danny nodded, quickly washing the blood from his hands before he headed inside to find Maria. He spotted her sitting with Erin and Eddie, her face pale with worry. She looked up, and relief flooded her expression as she saw him, but it quickly turned to confusion as she noticed blood on his shirt.

"Are you hurt?" she asked, standing up, her voice shaking.

"No, it's not my blood." Danny stepped closer, brushing his hand gently along her arm. "It's… it's your mom's."

Maria went silent, processing his words as tears welled up in her eyes. Jaime gave Danny a subtle shake of his head, letting him know he hadn't said anything yet.

"What happened?" she whispered, voice barely audible.

Danny took her hand, leading her to sit. "Miguel Gutierrez shot your mom. But she's alive and responsive. I… we can go to the hospital if you feel up to it."

Maria's face crumpled as she struggled to hold back tears. She nodded, her grip on Danny's hand tightening. Erin and Eddie gathered her things, and the family made their way to the hospital. On the way, Danny broke the silence.

"Talk to me, Maria. Say something," he urged softly.

She took a deep breath, her voice strained. "I'm trying… I'm trying not to fall apart. I don't know if I even want to see her, but… I need to be there, at least for updates."

When they arrived, Frank was waiting in the hallway with a somber look. He gave Maria a gentle hug. "They're working on her now. She was stable when we got here, so that's a good sign."

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor emerged, announcing that Carmen had made it through surgery and was stable. She was still unconscious but would wake up once the anesthesia wore off, and could be visited.

Danny looked at Maria. "I'm with you every step of the way," he said, guiding her toward her mother's room.

Inside, Maria paused, taking in the sight of her mother lying in the bed, tubes and monitors surrounding her. She swallowed hard, blinking back tears as she approached. She leaned over, pressing a gentle kiss to Carmen's forehead.

"I'm… I'm glad you're okay," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't know if you'll ever forgive me for trying to help you, for making decisions you hate… but I don't regret it. I love you, Mom. No matter what."

In Spanish, she continued softly, "Te deseo paz, mamá. Pero por mi paz, esta será la última vez que te veo en mucho tiempo." (I wish you peace, Mom. But for my peace, this will be the last time I see you in a long time.)

She kissed Carmen's forehead one last time and turned to Danny, her face wet with tears. "I'm ready to go."

Danny wiped a tear from her cheek, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I'm proud of you, Maria. And I love you."

They walked out of the hospital hand in hand, Maria glancing back at her mother one last time. Whispering a final goodbye, she left behind the pain and scars of her past, ready to embrace the peace and future that awaited her with Danny and their unborn children.