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Epilogue
So many airports,so many sleepless nights. She should be used to it by now, especially being a doctor, but Sasha Landry found it hard not to drag her feet while she headed to the taxi line.
At least spring had arrived in Chicago, which was a balm for her weary body. After weeks of consulting in Tanzania in a newly opened clinic, her current state confirmed that she was way beyond tired.
Instead of working, it would’ve been wiser to book a trip to a secluded beach that had absolutely no need for a doctor. If she had an apartment of her own, locking herself in and ordering out would’ve been an even better option.
Where was home? Acadiana County in Louisiana was where she grew up, but when Sasha was accepted into medical school, turning her back on the rickety shack her parents called home had never been in question.
After finishing her training she’d made the world her home, or rather made the best home she could wherever people needed her help, whether it was a tent, a hut, or the starry sky.
Chicago had only become a regular stop because of her cousin Deva. Her mother Amelie left Louisiana for the Windy City and got pulled into the nightmare of the criminal underworld, raising Deva and her brother the best she could before dying. Deva had escaped and built a life for herself until she came back when she’d met the love of her life, Aleksei. The Russian had almost got her cousin killed. Sasha could’ve forgiven the man who’d stolen Deva’s heart if he hadn’t brought a pack of bigger-than-life trouble-making brothers with him.
One of them popped into her mind even as she worked hard to erase all memories of him; the mighty Lazarus King, with his tall frame, squared, bearded jaw, and swirling mercury eyes. He was the most stubborn, annoying, and overbearing man she’d ever known. Not that she didn’t have experience with alpha male types; after all, in the developing countries where she did most of her work, men of power often looked down on women, thinking them feeble and disposable, to be protected, not considered.
Sasha had been in more than one fight with Lazarus King over the fact she’d been adamant in helping her cousin Deva and thus had come to know the bastard brothers and their growing circle of family and friends. However, she’d been pulled full force into the fold when Lazarus had been severely injured and ended up in a coma. Becoming his nurse in a perilous situation, while hiding out, had made her care so much more for his family. Maybe the fact he was silent helped Lazarus appear more tolerable in her eyes. And alluring and sexy.
With increased annoyance at the intruding images, Sasha reached the front of the taxi line before picking up her cell phone and realizing she’d forgotten to book anything. Not only did it cause her to stop in her tracks, but she almost plopped down on her suitcase and cried, which was a sure sign her breaking point was near.
Debating if she could impose on Deva or just let a cab driver decide, her cell buzzed in her hand, distracting her from her foolish state of despair. After all, she wasn’t in a war zone or starving to death like so many patients she’d seen. “Hello?”
“Hi. May I speak to Doctor Landry, please?”
The moment her title was used, Sasha became all business, especially since the woman with the British accent sounded so formal. “Speaking. How may I help you?”
“I’m so happy to have finally reached you. I tried earlier, but I got your voicemail. I’m Elizabeth. We met a couple of years ago in Eastern Europe when you came to work at a country orphanage, the one in a farmhouse. I was the person in charge of the non-profit organization. I don’t know if you remember me.”
Through the fog of her mind, Sasha recalled an older English woman with a great smile, dark hair with silver weaved in every strand, but most of all, a dedicated heart.
“Yes! Elizabeth! Of course! It’s been a while, but I do remember you. I heard you had to escape attackers with your pupils. Such an awful thing. I was relieved to hear you and the children were safe.”
It wasn’t uncommon for non-profit organizations to become a target of criminal or terrorist groups, either because they believed they could make a statement or get a lot of money through kidnapping the workers. Sasha didn’t know the details, but having been in a similar situation, knew how difficult it was. However, Elizabeth’s voice remained light. “Thank you, but I’m fine. In the end, all I wanted was for the children to be safe. We were lucky to be rescued. I know you’ve been to much more dangerous locations and risked your life many times.”
Sasha refused to think about the past or what had happened. From a therapist’s perspective, it wasn’t the best thing to do, but her work had been everything and filled the void. “Are you still in Europe? Is that why you’re reaching out to me?”
“Oh, no, doctor. I’m now helping out a local organization here in Chicago. My dear son doesn’t want me to go abroad. I think I made him turn gray before his time. I relocated to the city and learned through the nurses at the Northeastern Hospital that you often work pro-bono for them. And I wondered if you had a little free time.”
Her body screamed no, but her heart couldn’t deny people in need. “I may, but you’ve caught me at the airport, jetlagged and needing to find a place to stay. Can we speak tomorrow? I’m so tired I’m about to start babbling.”
“Goodness! How inconsiderate of me. And here I thought you were spending your evening relaxing. Are you at O’Hare?”
It was impossible not to smile at the sincere concern in her voice. “Yes, I am. But don’t worry, I’ll just open a booking app and find something.”
“You’re coming to my home. I have a small but comfortable guest room in a very safe building, as my son wouldn’t agree to anything else. And you know I’m not a complete psycho, Doctor Landry.”
It was clear the woman was joking, but Sasha had known crazy people in her line of work and one real psycho. One who’d threatened her cousin, put Lazarus in a coma, and tried to kill his brothers. Jamieson Finch was the very definition of a psycho.
“Please call me Sasha and I can’t impose on you, Elizabeth.”
“You aren’t. And I can hear in your voice how tired you are, doc… Sasha. Please, even if it’s only for one night. Don’t fight me for this. At least you’ll have enough hours of sleep to make a sensible decision.”
Before she could even open her mouth to argue, Elizabeth was sending her the address to her home and not giving up until Sasha was en route, even telling her that she’d wait by the door until she arrived.
The cab was swift, but to be honest, Sasha dozed on and off until her driver told her she’d arrived.
Sasha didn’t have a clue where she was, but everything around her was calm and quiet. The fact night had fallen and she was groggy also didn’t help her orientate herself. The buildings looked more industrial or commercial, although there were houses scattered around. Maybe it was an up-and-coming neighborhood.
As she dragged herself out of the car, her driver pulling out her luggage, Sasha recognized Elizabeth coming out of the building, beautiful and elegant as ever, even dressed in loose pants and a flowery tunic.
