Blind Love

Chapter 19

Sofia's throat was burning. She was disoriented, smelling medicine and alcohol. A constant beep could be heard as she tried to force her eyes open. Her vision was blurry and her eyes hurt as they came in contact with the window. The sunrays coming in seemed too bright. Her body ached so much that she cried out in pain when she tried to sit up.
"Sofia..." a deep voice breathed in relief next to her, "It's okay. I'll help you."
Everything was fuzzy and she tried to remember where she was and what happened.
The man with the deep voice gently helped her to sit. Her back felt on fire and she winced.

He brought a glass of water to her lips. His actions were so gentle and soft as if she was the most fragile thing he had ever seen. He took her hand and sat down next to her on the bed. She took in his perfume as he gently rested her head on his shoulder. So intoxicatingly masculine and sensual. He smelled like home... Mikhail.
"I'm here now", he whispered against her hair. He inhaled her scent and pulled her closer.
Her foggy mind cleared as the events barged into her mind. She remembered everything. The attack... Gregorio. Bile rose, burning her throat even more.
Mikhail got up and took the trash can next to the bed, placing her in front of her. She spewed into the trash can as more and more memories came up. Mikhail sat next to her, holding her hair with one hand and rubbing her back with the other. He gently helped her rinse her face and mouth and put the trash can away.

Sofia did not want Mikhail to see her like that. But she was too weak to protest. She felt violated and betrayed. She trusted Gregorio. He was her friend. He even shared her bed. How had she not noticed his true personality? How had she not sensed anything. She should have known.
Mikhail took her hand and brought it to his mouth.
"Don't do that. I can hear you think. Don't blame yourself."
She looked at him. His face was strained with worry but it did nothing to erase the stark beauty of his face. He seemed so large and yet so frail at the same time. She caressed his cheek gently, his stubble jaw tickling her palm.
"Where are we? How did I get here?" she asked, her throat burning at each word she pronounced.
"St Anne's Hospital. I made them transfer you here."
"How did you know where I was or what happened?"
He sheepishly looked away and said, "Well... I have a friend who works for the police force. When you told me about the break-in the other day, I called him and told him to look after you. He recognized your address when the dispatcher called them. He immediately called me and went to your place with two other trusted officers. And they found you..."
He fisted his hand and clenched his jaws.
"The motherfucker who did that to you had already left. What he did to you... Sofia... I will kill him."
From the moment, Aaron, his friend in the police force, described to him what she had been through, he vowed to kill the person who did it. He would take his time to torture him, savoring each scream. He was once one of the most feared man in the mafia world for a reason. Mikhail De Luca. He swore on his name that he would destroy everyone who hurt his precious Sofia.

"But... Mikhail... Wouldn't Emilio know where you are? Flora told me that he had eyes in most hospitals and police stations."
"Not here. St Anne's was an orphanage where they would sell children. I broke this child traffic years ago when I became the Mafia boss and built a small hospital. Emilio doesn't even know that this place exist. Hell, even the world doesn't know. Refugees who escaped the mafia world come here to get treated and get a new identity to start a new life."
Blond locks of hair fell in front of his eyes and she reached out to push them away. He fascinated her even more.
"Tell me who he is. I want his name, Sofia. I'll make him pay."
"He is the friend I told you about... Well, I thought he was my friend... Maybe I lead him on, Mikhail. I... I used him before."
He growled and pulled her closer. He felt tears running down her cheeks and wiped them away.
"You have to listen to me. This is not your fault. It is not your fault that that fucker tried to abuse you. You considered him a friend. You are human. Don't blame yourself. He should take accountability for his behaviour. He knew from the beginning that you were meant for someone else and he stayed. You had always been honest. Don't blame yourself. He chose to stay. He doesn't have the right to call you out when he knew from the beginning. That's not the behavior of a real man."
"Don't tell Flora that I am here. It will only stress her more."