Two Days Later

Sylvia had told them about the visit from the police that she had while they were away. Zander commended her on how she handled the situation. Fortunately, her mother had not gotten a visit at the club which meant that they weren't digging as deep as they could have. Still, it was bad enough that Zane was even a suspect in a criminal investigation, even if he was expecting it. They all were. They knew that there was no way that Desmond would accept defeat so soon.

Zane sat in the den with his father and brother while Shy and Layla went upstairs to unpack everything from the trip. Evan sat on the sofa with his elbows on his knees and his hands folded up to his chin.

"You just tell them." He said, looking over at Zane who was fidgeting and shaking a leg as he sat beside his brother.

Zander nodded. "Shy made a conscious decision. There's nothing they can do about that. They'll have to drop the charges."

Suddenly, they heard a car stop in front of the house. Evan shot up to his feet and into the foyer to look out of the window next to the front door. Zane and Zander followed when Evan opened the door and went outside to the top of the steps, leaving the door half-open. Zane looked out of the window to see the police officers Sylvia had described and his brother standing protectively looking down at them. Zander took his place by the opening of the door and Shy and Layla came halfway down the stairs to see what was going on.

"Can I help you, officers?" Evan said with his hands at his side.

The two officers stood at the bottom of the steps and looked up at the burly Evan. The older officer looked past Evan to the door where Zander stood, then back at the motorcycle on the street.

"We need to talk to Zane Nikolias. Is he available?" The older officer said, squinting up from the bright sunlight behind Evan.

"What for?" Evan replied in a commanding voice.

"He is a suspect in the disappearance of Shy Angelis. We have a warrant for his arrest." The older officer said reaching into his bomber jacket and pulling out a document. He handed it to Evan to look at.

"My son hasn't done anything wrong." Zander said coming from the doorway and joining Evan at the top of the steps. He glanced over his son's shoulder to look at the warrant.

"According to a witness, Miss Angelis was seen in that car with Zane late at night four days ago." The younger officer replied.

"You mean, Mrs. Nikolias." Zane said emerging from inside the house.

Evan handed the warrant back over to the older officer who looked puzzled. "Excuse us?"

"My wife. Shy Nikolias." Zane said looking back at the door to see Shy coming up next to him with her own document, a marriage license as Layla sported a smile of satisfaction in the background.

The young police officer reached out to grab the document from Shy's offering hand. He showed it to the older officer.

"Go run it in the system." He told the young cop, who immediately did as he was told.

"Why didn't you tell Desmond Aurelius that you were leaving him?" The officer questioned with doubt in his voice.

"Because he's a violent man." Evan snapped. "He wouldn't have let her go. The one you should be investigating is him!"

"Easy, Evan." Zane said, touching his brother's shoulder.

"Why wasn't that reported before?" The older officer continued to Shy.

The young officer trotted back over to his partner with the document. "It checks out. They were married yesterday in Puerto Rico."

"Well there you go." Evan said taking the license from the officer and giving it back to Zane.

"There's something else though." He replied nervously. "Miss Angelis, uh Nikolias, there's something you need to know. About your father."

Shy's face dropped and her chest began to rise and fall quickly. Her heart felt like it was being choked and before he said it, she knew. "No." Tears formed in her eyes as quickly as the word escaped her lips.

"He passed early yesterday morning. The doctor at the hospital has been trying to get in contact with you to collect his things and sign the papers." The officer continued.

"No!" Shy felt her legs give way and fell into Zane's arms as he tried to support her weight but instead slumped to his knees with her.

Layla put her hand over her mouth and let tears escape her eyes. Evan lowered his head and Zander did the same as Shy wailed into Zane's shoulder. His eyes turned red with burning tears as he held her against him.

"Since you didn't show, Mr. Aurelius took care of everything. You'll have to call him for news on the service." The younger officer said clearing his throat. "I'm sorry."

"If there's nothing else we need to discuss, officers, can you leave us?" Evan struggled to get the words out.

Both of the officers nodded.

"Sorry for your loss, ma'am." The older officer apologized and shoved the warrant back into his jacket.

They walked back to their car and drove off quietly. Zane lifted Shy to her feet and glanced at Evan before taking her inside so he and Layla could calm her down. Layla wrapped her arms around Shy's quaking body and started to walk her away from Zane.

He watched in agony as her cries seemed louder inside of the house.

Evan came next to him with Zander and touched his shoulder. "Go, take care of her. She's your wife now."

Zane nodded and rubbed his eyes with one hand before following them to the kitchen. It was hard to believe that just yesterday Shy looked the happiest she's ever looked and today she looked as if she would die again. He knew it was going to be rough. They still had many things to conquer before the peace would come, but he promised her. For better or worse.

Puerto Rico

Shy tucked her wavy blonde hair behind her ear with a baby blue orchid and looked into the mirror one last time before she heard a knock at the door of the Martinez family master bedroom that they so generously let her use. She turned around in her white strapless georgette A-line dress that had a split front and a tiny jeweled bow at the waist. It was simple and flowing and shaped her body flawlessly.

The door opened and Layla crept in shutting the door behind her in a beautiful long empire waisted dress in baby blue that framed her belly beautifully. She stopped and looked at Shy standing there with little make-up and still looking like the most beautiful woman in the world.

"Do I look okay?" Shy asked smoothing out her dress and looking down at herself.

Layla shook her head. "No, you're missing something."

Shy looked up and touched her ears. She was wearing a pair of pearl earrings that used to be her mother's. Then, she touched the modest diamond bracelet that Zander bought her the night before when they arrived. Then, the blue flower behind her ear.

"What?" She asked nervously.

"Something borrowed." Layla extended her hand to Shy and let a pearl teardrop necklace with white gold chain drop from her hand.

"It's beautiful." Shy turned around and lifted her hair so Layla could put it on.

Layla looked at her through the mirror and smiled as she clasped it on. "Evan gave it to me when we found out about the baby."

Shy touched the teardrop pearl and turned to Layla. "Thank you."

"Are you ready?" Layla handed Shy a small bouquet of white orchids with pink and yellow pistils held together by a white ribbon.

Shy grabbed the flowers tightly and exhaled sharply. "I'm scared."

Layla smiled warmly at her. "Do you love him?"

"Yes." Shy answered without hesitation.

"Then that's all you need." Layla answered back. "And I'll be right there in case you forget your line."

Shy smiled. "I'm ready." She nodded to herself and watched as Layla opened the door. Shy picked up the small flowing train to her dress and held it at her side leaving the room barefoot.

They sun was setting and cast the sky a beautiful orange and pink glow as the waves crashed against the shore a few feet from where they stood waiting with the priest. Zane looked at the Martinez house not too far in the distance and the family looking on from the patio in back. Children, grandparents, aunts and uncles of his first girlfriend watching him and welcoming him into their home on short notice. This was his family, he decided, aside from his father, Layla and Evan. He was upset that Sylvia and her mother could not be there.

He felt his father grab his face and turn it towards him and placed a kiss on Zane's forehead. "I'm proud of you, Zane. Don't ever think different."

Evan stood there with them wearing khakis and a white buttoned down short sleeved shirt to match his father, while Zane wore an ivory colored cotton suit jacket and pants with an untucked white buttoned down shirt.

Zane swallowed hard. "Thanks, dad."

Zander stepped over to the side and let Evan come to Zane. His big brother grabbed his shoulders and shook him once. "You ready, boy?"

Zane looked a little flushed when he answered. "I'm gonna piss myself."

Evan chuckled, "Do you love her?"

"Yeah I do." Zane answered without hesitation.

"Then that's all you need." Evan looked him in the eyes. He looked to the side and his eyes widened.

"What?" Zane asked, panicky and turned his face to see what Evan was looking at.

And there.

It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen in his life. A breeze hit and blew her hair beside her as she walked barefoot and beautiful down the beach to meet him. The multicolored skies reflecting off of her creamy skin making her look like she was glowing. She was facing her feet as she walked holding her dress at her side with one hand and bouquet in the other. His eyes glazed over and he became suddenly calm. The sound of the violent waves subsided as she approached and his heart developed a rhythm less erratic then before.

Layla came up and took her place next to Evan as Shy stopped in front of Zane who looked her up and down in awe. She smiled.

"Hey, beautiful." Shy whispered to Zane as she wrapped her arm in his to face the priest.

Zane looked at her and cracked a smile. He looked over at Evan as the priest started and Evan winked.

"We are gathered here on this beautiful evening the Lord gave us to join two souls together in holy matrimony. Zane Nikolias and Shy Angelis wish to be joined under God's eyes and vow to be faithful to each other for the rest of their lives." The priest looked at Shy and started again after they faced each other for the vows. "Shy, do you take Zane to be your lawfully wedded husband for better or worse, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live till death do you part?"

Shy gazed at her man as he held her hands in front of them and a tear escaped her eye as she smiled. "I do."

The priest then turned to Zane. "Zane, do you take Shy to be your lawfully wedded wife for better or worse, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live till death do you part?"

Zane's eyes glanced around Shy's face as a tear streamed down and cracked a smile. "With all of my heart, I do."

"By the power vested in me by the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The priest smiled and said, "You may now kiss the beautiful bride."

Zane smiled widely and pulled Shy in by the back of her neck and kissed her passionately as cheers broke out in the background from the house. She giggled and put her forehead against his as he mouthed the words "I love you" to her.

Back at the Martinez house a reception equipped with music, dancing, congratulations and authentic Puerto Rican dishes were waiting for them as a gift. Sylvia's grandmother had made all the food that Zane had grown up eating when he was with Sylvia. He went back to the first time he had came to meet the Martinez family and how they teased him for being a "gringo" and now here they were hosting the wedding reception that he never thought would happen. Sylvia had become like a cousin to him and Evan and her family had accepted the boys like they were their own.

The women of the family managed to escort Shy away to teach her how to dance to the Spanish music that was playing in the background while the men took Zane in the opposite direction for some celebratory drinks and cigars. They crossed each other's path throughout the night on the dance floor and in and out of the kitchen and the patio out back of the house.

Finally, at the end of the night when people started to filter out and the kitchen was clean and the music was lowered, Zane came from the living room to find Shy. He had taken his jacket off earlier and walked around with only the shirt which he unbuttoned a bit to cool off and the loose pants.

"Donde esta mi esposa?" Zane asked Sylvia's grandmother as she dried dishes by the sink where his wife was to be found.

She looked back at him and smiled. "Por alli, mira. Esperandote." She said motioning with her head towards the back door that lead to the patio that overlooked the beach.

Zane leaned over and gave Sylvia's grandmother a kiss on the cheek then went over to the door that was still slid open letting the night breeze filter in from the waves. He stood at the door and watched as the air whipped around Shy as she stood with her elbows leaning on the wooden rail in front of her. Her dress moved softly with the breeze and the air smelled like salt and sand.

Zane walked up behind her as another salsa song played from inside the house and grabbed her waist to turn her toward him. She fell into his arms with a stupid grin and closed her eyes, exhaling. Zane chuckled as her head buried in his chest inhaling his sweet cologne. He put his lips on her hair and smelled. Shy stood up straight, still barefoot and kissed her boy's lips once.

They didn't need to say a word. The feeling was mutual.

Sylvia's grandmother looked out from the kitchen when she was done and saw Zane and Shy dancing to the salsa song. She smiled to herself and went off to bed.

New York

"Desmond Aurelius." Desmond answers his cell phone as he walks to his chauffeured car waiting for him outside of Peter Angelis' Athens Corporation building in Manhattan.

"Mr. Aurelius, this is NYPD." The older officer's voice came from the other end.

Desmond entered the car with a briefcase and shut the door. He motioned for the driver to go and got comfortable. "News on my fiancé?"

"Actually yes, we found her, sir. She was with Zane Nikolias as you said." The officer started.

"Well, where is she?" Desmond didn't wait for the officer to finish. "Has Nikolias been arrested?"

"Not quite, sir." The officer said.

"What do you mean not quite?" Desmond growled over the phone.

"There was no sign of abduction, Mr. Aurelius. We spoke to Shy and she admitted to leaving with Mr. Nikolias. He didn't force her, therefore we have to drop the charges."

"This is ridiculous! I send you right to them and you can't even do your job!" Desmond became enraged. "She broke a contract. I want her dealt with legally."

"There's no law against leaving a fiancé, Mr. Aurelius." The officer tried to calm Desmond, but insulting him at the same time. "And now nothing can be done. She's married to Mr. Nikolias."

Desmond's face contorted into an unrecognizable rage. "What?"

"They were married two days ago in Puerto Rico. Since it's a commonwealth it is legal. They have the license and the rings. There's nothing we can do now. The best advice I can give you is to move on." The officer said.

Desmond slammed his phone shut angrily and threw in on the floor with a growl. He rubbed a hand over his face harshly and looked out of the window. He thought for a second before picking up his phone again and pressing a button before placing it to his ear.

"Didn't expect to hear from you again so soon." A voice on the other end answered. "You must need something."

"I want you to find out everything about the Nikolias'. Where they eat, where they sleep, who is most near and dear to them." Desmond said lowly, bordering on deranged.

"And then?" The voice asked seemingly amused.

"Destroy them." Desmond said pausing a moment to let it slip in then shut the phone over again. He looked at the driver through the rearview mirror. "Take me to the Angelis house."

The driver nodded and started to turn at the next corner to shift his direction.

The one thing Desmond hated most was competition. Fortunately, no one had ever been stupid enough to challenge him. He always got what he wanted without objection. To think that a little street punk from no background of prestige whatsoever had the nerve to challenge his authority pissed him off. He hated losing and as far as he was concerned the games had just begun.