Blind Love

Prologue

Darkness; silent and predictable- it was all that he knew. And Mikhail De Luca loved it. For two years, darkness had been his only comfort after he had lost his sight. It was what he deserved after having killed the person he had loved the most. He was doomed to live with his demons and he gladly accepted his faith. It was what a monster like him deserved.

And as he sat down a chair on his balcony, he could feel the soft rays of sunlight caressing his skin. He didn't want to feel warm though- he loved the coldness of his heart. But his doctor insisted that he got some sunlight. Mikhail didn't care but Ivan, his step-brother did. Ivan cared about him for some reasons that Mikhail didn't quite understand.

The De Luca family happened to be the most feared Mafia family of Italy and Aurelio De Luca, Mikhail's father was known for his cruelty.  Motherless, the young Mikhail hadn't had anyone to protect him and Aurelio had made him an exact replica of him. Pain, loneliness and cruelty- these were the words that haunted his childhood. His two step-brothers, Ivan and Emilio hadn't had the same fate as him but he had never resented them for that. What would be the use?

And after the death of his father, he had become the Mafia boss, feared and respected by everyone. He had always been logical and cold-hearted. He had had everything that he could wish for: women were throwing themselves at his feet, he had a big mansion, expensive cars, loyal friends. He had been content with his life. But that had been two years ago.

Now he only felt hatred and depressed. He hated himself with a burning passion but he didn't want to end up his life. No, it would be too easy for a monster like him who had the blood of a loved one on his hands. So every single day, he played the events that had scarred him in his mind. He never wanted to forget how horrible he was. He heard shuffling in his room and instantly knew it was Ivan. With the lost of his eyesight, his other senses had considerably improved.

"Fratello, you need to eat", his brother  said.
Ivan wanted to protect Mikhail. Being the eldest, he should always have protected him but he hadn't. He had always been a coward and now, he wanted to play his role as the elder brother. Mikhail needed him, even though he would never admit it. It pained him to see his younger brother so depressed.

Ivan sighed and sat down next to him. He ran a hand through his brown hair, feeling frustrated. He faced a wall each time he talked to his brother. He wanted him to get well but Mikhail didn't have the will. He wasn't self-pitying - he just thought that it was his fate and he had accepted it. His brother was punishing himself for his past mistakes.

Ivan knew that Mikhail needed time but they didn't have all the time. Mikhail had to come back at the head of the family. When he had been the Mafia boss, he had been cold and feared but also very fair and respected. The De Luca family wanted him as their boss because Emilio wasn't doing a great job. Even though, it was Mikhail that their father had mistreated and wanted to make a copy of himself, it was Emilio who happened to be his exact replica.

Emilio was sadistic and loved to make people suffer. When Mikhail had become blind, Emilio had seized the opportunity and proclaimed himself the boss. Since that day, he had become a tyran, causing havoc and bloodbath everywhere he had gone. Ivan was only the lawyer of the family- the one that dealt with all the legal aspects. He didn't have the shoulders to become the boss and Emilio was taking advantage of the situation. If their brother wasn't stopped, everyone would be doomed.

"Fratello, eat something, please. I can't see you like that", he said.
Still no reply. Mikhail just stared ahead. Ivan clenched his fists, feeling helpless and guilty. He should have protected Mikhail instead of acting like a coward. He just hoped that it wasn't too late to save him. People kept on saying that he was losing his time and that his brother was crazy. But he did not believe them. Mikhail had always been a survivor, a warrior - it was running in his veins. He knew the old Mikhail was still present somewhere. He was going to find him. He just had to find the way to do that.

"Baby", Ivan heard from the doorway.
He smiled as he saw Flora De Luca, his wife. She made her way towards him fluidly, making him caught her breath. Her blond hair framed her face perfectly, her blue eyes shining at him. He loved his wife because she made him a better person.
"Hi, Mikhail. How are you doing today?" Flora asked.
Still no reply. She sighed and sat on her husband's lap to wrap her arms around him. They both remained silent, sadness and guilt heavy on their shoulders. Everyone was a little responsible for Mikhail's state.

They left him alone and went to their bedroom. Tears were glintering in Flora's eyes as they sat down on the bed. Her husband wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
"Things are going to be alright", he said.
"Ivan, I'm scared. Emilio is growing more and more unstable. We have to do something", the blonde said, looking up at her husband.
"What do you suggest?"
"We have to get another opinion. Our doctor isn't specialised in that domain and neither I am. We have to get someone more qualified."

A long silence installed itself. The Mafia world was a vicious and sadistic one. They didn't want to bring anyone else into it because it would be too cruel. Neither Flora nor Ivan were part of the Mafia by choice. And they couldn't quit it either. But everything wasn't rotten. One of the proofs was the little human growing inside Flora's belly. In the Mafia, family and loyalty were everything. He wanted his child to live freely but it wouldn't be possible under Emilio's watch. He clenched his fists and looked down at his wife with determined eyes.

"Then we'll find someone for him. We are going to get out of this life, cara. We'll do it for our baby", he whispered, kissing her forehead.
But they couldn't just bring anyone into the family. Trust was everything in the De Luca family and it was a hard thing to earn. And his brother's condition was very delicate. If other families came to know about it, they would strike without hesitation because the Mafia was all about power and wealth.

Ivan placed his hand over his wife slightly rounded belly and inhaled. It was inconceivable to bring someone so innocent and pure into this depraved world so he had to act as quickly as possible. The survival of the fiercest was the rule that dominated the family and he knew that Mikhail was the fiercest of them. He would be the savior of his child and even though, Ivan felt guilty, he knew it was the only possible solution.