Page 58 of Beneath the Flames
“I do. They were kind enough to let me stay with them for six months after I came to the United States. It gave me enough time to save up money to live on my own.”
“Tono!” Brie cried in disbelief. “I feel like I don’t even know who you are.”
“You know me,” he stated in a serious tone.
Brie held back any further protests because he was right. They knew each other on a much deeper level. What had happened in his past didn’t matter, other than how it had shaped him into the person he was now. “You’re right, Tono. I know you.”
Still…she could just imagine how adorable it would be to see Tono and Sir together at that age and asked him, “You wouldn’t happen to have any pictures of you and Sir together, would you?”
“Why?” He snorted in amusement. “Do you need proof?”
“No, of course not,” she giggled. “I would just love to see what the two of you looked like back then.”
“I’m certain I have photos of Sir Davis in storage. I will look through my files when we’re finished touring.”
“So, enough about me,” Brie insisted. “How are you doing, Tono?”
“Autumn and I are having an exceptionally successful tour. Many of our venues are sold out.”
“That’s exciting!”
“Autumn has a dedicated following now.”
Brie chuckled. “I can’t believe it when I think of the shy girl I met who refused to uncover her face… You performed a miracle.”
“No,” he insisted. “I simply unveiled what has always been there. She is the personification of courage and graceful strength. Autumn is truly a sight to behold on the stage.
“So, will we be seeing you guys again soon?” Brie asked hopefully.
“I had originally expected to return in two months, but we’ve been asked to extend our tour.”
Brie frowned and cautioned him, “Don’t overextend yourself. You are still recovering from that virus. I worry about you.”
“There’s no reason to worry,” he assured her.
Brie heard Autumn call out in the background, “Tono, is that Brie?”
“It is, kohana. Would you like to speak with her?”
“I would love to!”
Speaking to Brie, Tono said, “I will speak with you again after you two are finished.”
Autumn sounded concerned when she asked, “How are you doing, Brie? We never stop thinking about you.”
“I’m actually doing well enough that I have started working on the documentary again.”
“I’m so relieved to hear that. The horror of your captivity hasn’t been far from my mind.”
Knowing it wasn’t only Tono she was indebted to, Brie said, “I want to thank you for caring for Tono after Holloway captured me.”
“I was terrified for you and Tono! I still remember the day you were kidnapped because Tono had been uneasy for hours before Sir Davis even called. The moment he got off the phone, he laid out his jute mat and sat down to meditate. When he didn’t speak or move from that spot the entire day, I started bringing him water and food.”
Her voice caught when she shared, “Brie, I have never seen Tono like that before. There were many times I walked in to find him silently crying.”
Brie felt heartsick when she heard how much Tono had suffered on her behalf.
“The day you were rescued…”
