Page 21 of Whispered Promises
“Hey, sweet pea. It’s Mommy.”
“Mama.”
Brie swallowed back the painful lump in her throat when she heard her daughter’s beautiful voice.
“I love you, sweet pea!” she cried, barely able to choke out the words.
Hearing her cry, Hope whimpered, “Mama?”
Brie held back her emotions, swallowing several times before she said in a sing-song voice, “Mommy is coming home. I can’t wait to see you and Antony so I can give you both a great big hug.”
Giggling, her mother told Brie, “I know you can’t see this, but Hope is pointing at Antony right now. She has the biggest smile on her face.”
Brie knew she was about to break down in happy tears which would only confuse Hope, so she told her, “Sweet pea, can you give Antony a big kiss for Mommy?”
To her parents, she said, “I’ve got to go, but I want you to know how much I love you both.”
“We love you too, dear heart!”
“I’m not going to believe you’re safe until I see you with my own eyes,” her father stated, his voice strained with emotion.
“I’ll be home soon, Daddy.”
Brie’s hands were shaking, her heart bursting with joy, when she gave Sir back the phone. “Thank you. I needed to hear their voices.”
Sir squeezed her tightly. “Your parents have been out of their minds with worry but have done a phenomenal job making sure our children are cared for.”
Sir dialed the last number and immediately stated, “Brie’s safe.”
He then handed her the phone as he explained, “I promised I would call him when I found you. I don’t think we would have located you in time without his guidance.”
Brie frowned, wondering who it was when she put the phone up to her ear. “Hello?”
Tono’s warm voice filled the air. “Toriko.”
His voice was like a warm blanket to her soul. “Oh, Tono…”
“I knew Sir Davis would find you.”
“He did,” she said, hugging Sir in gratitude.
Tono paused for a moment before stated sadly, “You have suffered much, toriko.”
Brie nodded as tears started to fall. “Sir says you helped to find me.”
“The connection you and I have is still strong.”
Clutching the phone tighter, she confessed, “There were times when breathing was my only escape.”
“I know,” he said solemnly.
Brie’s heart skipped a beat. She wondered if the connection she had felt hadn’t been as one-sided as she’d thought. Before she could ask Tono, she caught a whiff of smoke.
Goosebumps suddenly rose on her skin. “Something’s wrong!” she cried out. “We have to get them out now!”
“Who?” Sir asked, taking the phone from her.
“There are other people locked in the basement!”
