I walk through the last doors out of the airport. I only have my hand luggage with me. I look at the large plane in front of me. It is almost too big to look at as a whole.
Greyson slides his hand around my waist.
"Good to go?" He asks with a smile.
"Yeah" I tell him even if I am not sure how I feel. I don't like running away anymore. "It feels like we are running away."
"Yes, it does feel that way. But right now, I need to find a way to make sure you are safe. I cannot afford to have Marcella find out that you are alive." Greyson places a kiss on my temple and pulls me into a hug.
"Let's go" he starts walking to the plane where the line of people is waiting to board. I follow a step behind Greyson.
We wait our turn to board and Greyson takes my hand luggage from me so I can climb the stairs without carrying it. Inside we find our seats and make ourselves comfortable. I lean my head back against the headrest and close my eyes. A sigh of relief leaves me. It has been the worst and best week I have ever had.
Meeting Greyson on the boat was humiliating. Having Greyson find me in my apartment was relieving. Being in hospital, the funeral, meeting the girls, explaining everything, that was exhausting. The thing that keeps running through my mind most is knowing of all the sacrifices Ryan made to keep the family safe. Of all the brothers Ryan gave up most. It was like he contained Marcella by keeping her busy and happy so the rest of them could live somewhat normal lives. My heart twists in my chest. Rachel would never know how much Ryan loves her unless he tells her.
The air hostess makes her announcements and the plane takes off. I lean my head against Greyson's shoulder and fall asleep.
*****
It is hours later when Greyson rubs my head softly. I wake up to a dimly lit plane.
"Would you like something to eat, Ellie?" Greyson asks me in soft tones. I didn't realise I was hungry until he said those words. I nod and he talks to the air hostess. A few minutes later she brings us something to eat. We eat in silence. When I am finished, I shift my plate to Greyson's side of the small flip down table and the air hostess takes it away.
"Where are we going?" I ask Greyson for the first time since he told me to pack my bags.
"Somewhere where there will be nobody else around" he tells me in a flat emotionless voice. I have come to know this voice as his hiding voice. He is trying to keep his worry hidden from me.
I shift in my seat and make myself comfortable again. I lean m head against his shoulder and he moves his arm to cross my body and lets his hand rest on my leg. I hug his arm to me and feel his hand squeeze my thigh. I close my eyes and fall asleep again.
*****
Greyson kisses me on my forehead to wake me again. I open my eyes to a well-lit plane. It is daylight outside and the air hostess is telling us we are a few moments from landing.
My legs are weak when we walk off the plane. Greyson holds his arm out to me and I hook in so we can walk together. We enter the Leonardo da Vinci Airport and I look up to Greyson.
"Rome?" I ask him as we walk to the luggage area.
"For now, yes." His answer is short and blunt. It makes me feel worried. I watch him as he looks around. He is searching. He takes hold of my hand and takes me to where our luggage is. He grabs the suitcases off the belt and pulls the handles out. He takes his suitcase handle in one hand and grips my hand in the other. I set my hand luggage on my suitcase and take the handle to pull the bag.
We walk briskly to the exit where a car is waiting for us. Greyson puts our bags into the car and opens the back door for me to get in. He doesn't speak. He doesn't smile. His jaw is set and his mouth is a thin line.
When we are settled in the car, he tells the driver to pull away slowly. Greyson looks around to see if any other vehicles pull away at the same time we do.
We drive to an expensive hotel near the airport with underground parking. Greyson tells the driver to stop as close as possible to the nearest elevator. He stops and Greyson gets out to take our luggage from the car. He sets it beside the car and opens the door for me to get out.
We take the elevator to the very top floor of the building.
"Do we not have to stop by reception?" I ask Greyson in a soft voice in the elevator.
"Everything has been arranged." He tells me without looking at me.
When the doors of the elevator open Greyson takes my hand an pulls me after him towards the large double doors of the suite where we will be staying. He opens the doors and a man is standing next to the doors on the inside. He is wearing a suite. He stands with his feet apart and his hands are clasped in front of him. He has an earpiece that has a coiled wire running into his collar.
When Greyson stands in front of him, he speaks.
"Everything is secured, Sir." He states in an official tone. "We have had surveillance on this suite for the last three days and we can assure you that it is safe." Greyson nods and the man steps out of the room and stands with his back towards the door. Greyson closes the door behind him.
Greyson gives a sigh of relief. He looks at me, the warmth returning to his eyes. He takes me in his arms and kisses me sweetly on the lips.
*****
The next morning Greyson wakes me up early. The sun is not even up yet. I get dressed and pack the few things I unpacked into my suitcase.
The man that stood outside the door all night comes in with two other men that looks almost exactly like him. They take our luggage and lead us down to the basement parking lot. A car is already waiting for us. They load our luggage into the car and Greyson opens the door for me to get in. I get in quietly and move up so Greyson can get in at the same door.
The guards all get into different black cars and as the driver pulls away, they all start to move with us.
It is not long before we reach a small private air field. The sun is slowly rising. There is a small private plane waiting for us. Our vehicle stops almost too close to the steps that lead into the airplane.
The other three cars stop around us as if they are trying to hide us. The drivers get out and take our luggage from the car. They carry it into the plane and take a few moments before they come out again. Greyson is not moving to get out of the car so I sit and wait for him to indicate what we will be doing next.
The first of the three men come to Greyson's door and opens it. He leans in and tells Greyson that everything is secured. Greyson gets out of the car and comes around to open my door. He takes my hand and pulls me out of the car and up the steps into the plane. The door of the plane closes as we take our seats inside the small luxurious plane.
The moment the door closes Greyson visibly relaxes. He looks at me before saying.
"Almost there" He looks exhausted. My heart twists in my chest because I know this exhaustion is because of his effort to keep me safe.
The plane takes off and in less than an hour we land on a small island. I suspect Greyson would get agitated again when the door of the plane opens again. I watch him carefully to see if I can gauge his mood. The door opens but Greyson stays calm and relaxed. He gets up slowly and takes my hand to lead me out of the plane.
There is a woman and three young men standing outside, waiting for us. They are all dressed in white clothes with white aprons.
"Mr Morton. We are so delighted that you and your beautiful wife had a safe trip here." The woman absolutely beams at Greyson. Greyson looks at me to see if we need to correct her on the wife statement. I pull up my shoulders and Greyson decides to let it slide.
I look around the island as the plane takes off, leaving us behind.
"Where are the people?" I ask Greyson.
"It is only us, and Lorna with her three helpers." Greyson tells me as we follow Lorna to a small stone cottage overlooking the magnificent ocean.