Blind Love

Chapter 2

Picture of Mikhail above.

Mikhail judged by the soft sound of her feet on the floor that the intruder was small. He was cautious as he didn't trust anyone. He clenched his fists as he felt the unknown female approaching him.
"Relax, Mikhail", his brother said, "Dr. Sofia Olivarez is a friend of Flora and she can help you."

Mikhail chuckled bitterly and shook his head. His brother wouldn't accept the fact that he couldn't be saved. Even after having contacted the best doctors without any improvements, he was still determined to cure him. Mikhail knew he was a hopeless case and he had accepted it. It was his punishment; his fate; the price that he had to pay for his past mistakes.

"I need to examine him", Sofia said softly.
She was still puzzled as why they had contacted her for him because she was not an opthtalmologist.
Ivan and his wife nodded and left the room to wait for her outside. They warrily casted a last glance at her before exiting. Mikhail was unpredictable and Flora feared for her friend's life. Sofia was part of her family- she was her sister, even though they were not related by blood.

Sofia was in awe for the male specimen in front of her. His high cheekbones were perfectly chiseled, his hair appeared soft and lightly fell onto his forehead. But she was professional and refuse to let herself be distracted.
"Hello, sir. I am Dr. Sofia Olivarez. Can you please tell me your name?" she asked softly.

Her voice was soft and melodious to his eyes and he found himself hating that sound. He knew instantly that this female was dangerous for him and didn't want to let her in.
"Mikhail De Luca. And what kind of doctor are you if you don't even know the name of your patient?" he growled.
Sofia sighed quietly. It seemed like the task was going to be even more complicated.
"Mr De Luca, can you tell me your age?"
"Thirty-two."

She asked him a series of questions that was starting to irritate him. She seemed oblivious to his harsh tone or his rigid posture. He was becoming agitated and he didn't understand how this happened by being in her presence for only ten minutes. He was normally so distant about everything and everyone but this woman made him want to let his rage out.

Sofia finally understood why they had called her as she read his medical reports. This case was not one that she had often encountered but it was not impossible to cure. What was going to harden her task was the stubbornness of her new patient. She was slowing becoming obsessed by the way a tic would work in his left jaw whenever she asked him a question. It was highly entertaining and fascinating at the same time.

His eyes had been beautiful but sadly empty at the begin but now, she could clearly distinguish a fire in them. At least, she brought out certain emotions of him... And to be honest, he brought out also some of her. Since she had seen him, her heartbeat had been ecstatic.

"Alright Mr De Luca. It's over. I'll be in the next room if you need something."
He didn't respond- he just stared blankly into thin air. Sofia felt irrevocably drawn to him but she shook her head.
She didn't need to add this man's problems to hers- she was already full of them. Sighing, she gazed one last time at the male beauty and exited the room.

Flora and Ivan sat on the bed, waiting for her as she entered the adjacent room. Sofia could feel their worry for Mikhail as she sat across them.
"Is it really that bad?" Flora asked.

Sofia looked at her best friend as if she was seeing her for the first time. It was ironical because in certain ways, it was true- everything she knew about her was a lie. Trust was something the brunette didn't give easily and Flora knew it. Sofia meant a lot to her; even though they did not share blood-ties, she considered her her sister.

Flora knew that she would need to do a lot to regain her trust but she was willing to do everything. But she couldn't help the wave of guilt that submerged her.
She was dragging her best friend into a dangerous world- a world that she had been fighting to leave ever since she was a child.

Ivan and herself would do anything to keep Sofia safe but in the Mafia, the word safe didn't exist. She tried to lighten the weight on her shoulders by saying that she was doing this for her baby but it didn't help.
She was risking the life of her sister to save her child. Life was cruel because she was sacrificing someone no matter what she chose.

"How did your brother become blind?" Sofia asked.
"He had been in a car accident about two years ago but nobody could understand why he became blind. None of his optical nerves had been damaged. Flora had suggested getting a psychiatrist because nothing worked on him."
"Right. Your brother seemed to be suffering from conversion disorder. Has he been through a traumatic experience?"

Ivan sighed and rubbed his eyes. He wasn't sure about what had happened to his brother. One night, he had received a phone call from Emilio saying that Mikhail was badly hurt.
When he had arrived at the private clinic, Mikhail was passed out from sedatives and when he had woken up, he had refused to talk about what had happened.

"I don't know. He doesn't want to talk about it. He doesn't really talk to anyone. He has been like this for two years now", Ivan replied defeated.
"Sofia, please. You have to help us. There are bigger things happening around, things that we can't really explain to you but I need your help", Flora said, tears swelling in her eyes.

"Are you willing to answer my questions now?" the brunette said calmly.
"Sofia, you have to understand that there are certain questions that we won't be able to answer for your own safety. Go ahead and ask your questions. We'll try to answer the maximum", Ivan replied.

"Gosh! You are starting to freak me out. With all the money that you seem to possess, why didn't you send your brother in a specialised home?"
Ivan and Flora looked at each other and sighed simultaneously.

"We are part of one of the most dangerous institutions of the world. We can't let anyone know that Mikhail is like that. It would be lethal to him and to us- to everyone", he said.
"Then why did you contact me?"

"Because you are the only person whom I trust besides Ivan and Mikhail. And I also know that you can help Mikhail", Flora replied.
"How can I know if I can trust you? My God! Flora, I've known you for the past ten years and I didn't know you had a husband or that you were rich or that you were pregnant!"

They both stared at her, mouth agape.
"You really thought that I wouldn't notice the way both of you always protectively touch your belly? We were supposed to be best friends. There were no secrets between us. You know my entire life. Heck, you know me better than I know myself."

Tears started to spill out of the blonde' eyes as despair engulfed her. She was losing her best friend and she felt as if part of her heart was being ripped off.
Sofia bit her lower lip, feeling that she had been too harsh with her best friend. She got up and hugged her, wiping her tears.

Ivan silently watched the two women and smiled. The bond between these two was strong and beautiful. He walked out of the room to give them so time alone, knowing that it was what they needed.

"Things are really complicated, Sofia. But I really need you. Your future godchild needs you. And Mikhail is our only chance to find peace again while you are his only chance to find peace again. He is a good man."
The petite brunette looked at her best friend. Flora was a prideful woman who never broke down. Seeing her with red puffing eyes and with no confidence was something new to her.

"I know it won't be easy for you to trust me again but I will try everything to get back our friendship."
"Fine", Sofia said softly, "then explain all this bullshit to me."
"Ivan and I are part of a very dangerous world, Sofia. And if you learn about it, you would even be in more danger. If it wasn't for the sake of the being growing inside of me, I would never have introduced you to this world. You are already in danger but if you know more, you will be dead."

Sofia cracked a smile at her friend. She had a habit of finding dangerous situation funny and laughing at bad times. She trusted Flora's words and nodded. She was still the closest family she had and Sofia always protected family.