The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride(56)

Seeing Grace, seemingly so healthy, his eyes had glowed, everything in him wanting to rush forward and pull her in against him, knowing that he could not for her safety. She however, had taken one look at him, her knees becoming weak. Seeing her reaction Daryle had pulled her into his arms to hide the sudden falter, not prepared for her to be sent back to the ward whispering so softly against her ear.

“I will explain everything…you have to be strong” Grace had looked back at him, nodding thankfully that he had covered up her shock.

Alexos had watched in surprise as Daryle had enveloped her in his arms, fighting hard not to pull her into his own. Turning to the doctor he had shaken his hand before moving again to the corridor where the guards still stood waiting for them.

Grace had looked at the two men in surprise, seeing the solemn looks on both of their faces, realising that her rescue had been more difficult than even she had imagined.

From the hospital the group had once more been taken to the airport, one of the officers taking Alexos to the side before he would allow them to board the small plane. Grace had watched as Alexos had handed over an envelope looking up at Daryle with questioning eyes. Leaning down he had told her of the bribe and the amount, her eyes opening in shock “That much?” groaning at how much she now owed the Greek.

Having checked the contents of the envelope the officer had smiled widely, shaking Alexos’ hand happily before returning to the other. Rejoining them with his face sombre Alexos had guided them onto the plane.

“Let’s get the hell out of here before they change their minds”, his voice serious as he had instructed the pilot to take off. Only when they were in the air had he finally turned to Grace, his face etched with real concern as he had moved to hunch down before her in the seat she sat buckled tightly in, her hand still in Daryle’s.

“Are you OK?” his voice tortured, Greek words of frustration and pain spilling from him. Unbuckling she had thrown herself into his arms.

“I was so scared Alexos….I didn’t know what would happen”

Daryle watched the way Alexos had held her so tightly, the relief on his face as he had pulled back, his hands moving to cup her face before laying small kisses on her lips.

“Don’t you EVER scare me like that again” he had said softly, Grace’s lips twitching as she had nodded gently. Daryle’s small cough had made the other two look at him, small embarrassed smiles leaving both as they had remembered that they were not alone.

Moving back to his seat he had allowed his eyes to look over her, seeing that she was thinner than a few weeks before and paler “What is wrong….what happened? We were told that you collapsed. Are you OK?”

As Daryle had leant forward, Grace had laid her hand on his arm, her eyes pleading as she had nodded.

“I am fine…honest…they said that I had overexerted that is all”

Alexos had caught the interaction between the two, not happy knowing that there was something that they were not telling him, but he had smiled at her with relief, his eyes holding hers.

“I can take you anywhere you want to go” Grace saying nothing as he had added “But I am asking you to come home with me”

Her smile had lit up her lovely face as Grace had nodded fervently, he feeling heat fill his whole body

“I would like that Alexos, I really, really would”

As he sat back Daryle had watched the two, feeling contentment to his very bones at the way things were working out. Grinning he had started to laugh, Alexos pulling his look from Grace holding back the words that had wanted to spill from him as he had been relieved to turn the conversation to something else as the two had talked over the rescue, Grace’s eyes widening with all it had taken to get her out of the country.

Soon the plane had landed on the Greek mainland and Alexos had once more pulled his phone out to call for his helicopter to be readied. He had invited Daryle to join them, to stay at the villa, but giving Grace a wink Daryle had shaken his head “No…I think that I will find a hotel and leave you two crazy kids to talk”

Alexos had shaken his head. “The least I can do is offer you the use of my hotel suite” Grace giving Daryle a wide smile. “Yes…you should…it is amazing”

Daryle had nodded in thanks as again Alexos had organised for him to be picked up and taken to the luxury suite. However, he had also insisted that Daryle visit them before returning back to the UK, the other man nodding happily before pulling Grace into his arms.

“Now I expect a phone call, you know how much I love happy endings” his wicked grin causing her to flick a small amused smile towards Alexos as she had nodded gently back.