Maximus

I was burning.

My skin felt as if someone set a match and lit me on fire. Opening my eyes, I noticed that Stella was no longer on the other side of the bed curled up but rather laying on top of me. Her face was peaceful while she slept making me smile but it was short lived remembering how hot I was.

Needing to get out of this inferno I slowly roll her off of me, moving carefully to not wake her. When I got Stella on her back my hand softly moved to her stomach. I was still processing the fact that I'm going to be a dad but instead of being scared at that fact I'm now getting excited.

Stella moaned stretching her body before snuggling into the pillows to sleep. Bending down I kissed where our child is growing then her forehead.

Getting up I moved to the kitchen chuckling seeing her midnight meal still out. Feeling a presence, I slowly grab a kitchen knife just as someone slowly began to clap.

Turing with the knife ready to throw it, I quickly stop and took a breath swearing when I see Anthony sitting at the kitchen table with his feet up. "You know I could have killed you."

Anthony waved his hand. "Details."

Shaking my head, I return the knife making a note to talk to Stella's security detail about Anthony. "Big detail. I don't know how Stella would react if I kill her best friend but I can guess not well."

He chuckled sipping his coffee and motioned to two coffee cups and a bag that smelt of baked goods on the kitchen table. "Good point, that may affect your relationship. Speaking of which, I see you have won her over."

Sitting down I look him over with a nod. "Seems I have been fortunate. Is this the starting of a talk?"

Taking a sip of the coffee Anthony brought, I watch him laugh. "What can I say to scare a mafia underboss?"

Ah, there it is. "You know who I am, didn't think you were aware."

Anthony took a sip of coffee. "I knew I heard your name somewhere, then I remembered your family used to be my father's special clients. With me running the practice now, your brother Lorenzo brought me into the fold the other day. Now, you going to answer my question?"

I chuckled, he and Stella are similar. "Well my answer would be that you don't approve of me." I put simply. "Stella loves you and values your opinion. If you told her that you didn't think I was right for her, that would scare me, making me fear I would lose the woman I am growing to love. And our child."

The room went silent, Anthony leaned back in his chair. I was surprised he was brought into our family business already. Yes, we worked with his father and I suspected we would work with Anthony since he is heard to be better than his father. But Lorenzo could have warned me that he was telling my woman's best friend I'm mafia.

I sipped on my coffee while Anthony kept looking me over, his face void of anything but calculation. After a moment he nodded pointing at me. "And that is why I approve. You have learned and respected every part of her but make no mistake, my father was your lawyer and now I am. If you ever hurt her or the child, I can send every one of you into jail."

Chuckling I shake my head at him. I'm growing to like Anthony. "I'll accept that brotherly threat, but might want to keep that to ourselves. People hearing you threatened sending my family to jail, even in good nature, could send the wrong impression."

He thought for a moment before nodding. "Well how about I rescind my threat and if you are someone who needs it then you don't deserve to be with her."

Taking a slow sip of my coffee I stare into Anthony's eyes. "You don't need to threaten me, I would never hurt Stella. I will always be there for her and our child."

"Good answer. I'll hold you to it." Anthony put his feet down and sat up.

"You better not be checking out my man." Stella said walking into the kitchen with a robe on, my arms going out to pull her onto my lap. I didn't think about the action, it was an automatic response but Stella didn't mind and settled comfortably.

Anthony rolled his eyes when Stella reached into the pastry bag taking out an egg sandwich on a croissant. "Hello to you too baby mamma. Don't worry you can keep your man, Cody is the only one to turn my head. I was simply taking time to get to know your mafia man."

Stella stopped and turned to me, then Anthony, back to me and finally Anthony. "Mafia?"

I chuckled. "It's alright, meet the family's lawyer."

"You work for his family?" Stella asked slowly.

Anthony shrugged. "Cody and I want to adopt, working for a mafia family will pay US adoption fees."

Stella hummed taking a bite, my hand moving to her stomach to rest on her baby bump. "Good answer. What do you want?"

"What makes you think I want anything?" Anthony replied innocently.

She sighed leaning into my chest eating her food. "Anytime you need something you go to Honeycomb and get me food. So, what you want?"

"Family dinner next week. You, your Nanna and Maximus are invited." Stella leaned forward making me suck in a breath when she moved her perfect ass against me. Her hand waving to make Anthony continue. "Alright fine, I am proposing to Cody and I would like you to celebrate with us."

Stella gasped. "About time! Are you sure he will say yes? Wait are you proposing because you are pregnant. Is Cody pregnant?"

Anthony snorted rolling his eyes. "Says the pregnant woman who doesn't have a ring on her finger."

"I gave one, she gave it back." I defended making Stella look to me amused.

Stella rolled her eyes after a moment then reached under her robe by her neck pulling out a necklace chain, my family ring hanging there. "Then he offered another ring and I kept that one."

Anthony looked at the ring and shook his head. "You gave back the ring which according to Cody, would pay for his entire student loan payment? Yet you keep the massive sterling silver one? Where's the thought process?"

The woman on my lap took a bite of her sandwich and flipped him off. "I have my reasons. So, the dinner? Where, when, dress code and what do I bring?"

"Well." Anthony put his now empty coffee cup down. "If he says no, a case of vodka. If he says yes then dinner at seven, our place, dress nice and bring dessert."

Stella took another bite of her food. "He won't say no, he hasn't stayed with you all these years for free legal advice."

"Thanks for the confidence." Anthony grumbled.

Finishing her sandwich Stella rolled her eyes. "It's too early for you to be dramatic. He will say yes because you two are soulmates. There, better?"

Anthony nodded. "Yes, much."

I chuckled at the two, they might not be blood but they sure are siblings. They both now turned to me, Anthony tilting his head. "What's funny? I'm proposing and will be told yes, you got a ring returned."

Stella picked up her sandwich wrapper and threw it at Anthony. "Hey, be nice or I'll tell Cody to say 'no' then set him up with one of Maximus's men."

Anthony's hands went up in defence. "You're getting moody baby momma..."

"Anthony..." Stella warned.

"Hey I'm being nice, I'm inviting your sperm donator? Boyfriend? Possible fiancé? Friend? Ex-fuck buddy? Okay it's been a while since we talked so not sure what you guys are calling yourself, though you are looking cosy with each other. Either way, I'm inviting Maximus to a family dinner to celebrate the hopeful engagement of Cody and I." Anthony shrugged and reached into his pastry bag to take out a granola bar.

Stella groaned. "Alright, you made your point."

I chuckled and rubbed her back. "I appreciate the invitation. We will happily bring dessert or alcohol."

Anthony motioned to me. "See, he has manors."

Stella perked her lips. "Unless you have another sandwich in your bag, you have told your plans, we have accepted your invitation and now you are treading on ice."

He chuckled finished his pastry then wiped his hands with a napkin. "Alright, this is where I leave you with little miss moody and hormonal. Good seeing you Maximus."

I chuckled when Stella stuck her tongue out to Anthony. "Like wise Anthony, enjoy your day and good luck with Cody though I doubt you will need it."

"Thanks." Anthony got up from the table and put his jacket on.

"Thanks for the food and I'm not moody." Stella said leaning back into me.

Anthony snorted. "Yeah sure." With that he turned around and walked out of the apartment.

Hearing the door close I take a sip of coffee. "Isn't Cody ...?"

"Yep." She chuckled shaking her head. "That will be a good story for sure."

I hummed thinking about his way to celebrate. She met my family last night, looks like my turn is coming up soon.

Stella's hand went to my ring around her neck. "Did you sleep well? I'm sorry I called so late and interrupted you working... though you shouldn't work that late."

I settled back into the chair. "I slept well and never apologise for calling me, I'm always here for you. And I wasn't working, you actually saved me from a family debate." She tilted her head in silent question. "We had finished the second episode of Bly Manor and the family was in a heavy debate about theories."

She straightened her head with an amused look. "You'll pause a binge to talk about theories?"

I hummed taking a sip of coffee. "When we watched Hill House, a white board got broken out to write down theories and debate over them. It got ugly."

"Ha, for some reason I can see it." A thoughtful look crossed her face. "This morning felt normal."

"It did. Is that bad?" I asked running my hand up her spine making her shiver.

"No, it's good. Maybe things will settle down." She reached into the pastry bag and took out a granola bar.

Part of me wanted to tell her that in this life nothing is stable. But this morning, after the first night she slept, I'll let her keep her optimism.

Calmness only means something greater is coming. And when Stella opened her phone to check her emails I focused on appreciating my time with her before that storm hits.

"What are your plans today?" She asked putting her phone down and looking to me.

I glanced to her room where I hear my phone chime, then to her. "Have some work to do at the office and between meetings I'll be planning our next date."

"Date?" She tilted her head. "Oh?"

Smiling I thought about what I have on my calendar for tonight. "Aye date. Make sure your free tonight, should have informed you sooner but I forgot about it till my phone gave off a calendar reminder."

"Is that an order?" She teased. "To be suddenly free for you?"

"You mean for dates that you ordered?" Chuckling I shook my head. "Not an order, it's a challenge."

A slow smile spread across her face, lighting her eyes. "You're on but I'm warning you, if its anything to do with high society; you're going to pay."

She hopped off my lap and headed towards her bathroom. I stayed in the chair to finish my coffee and let myself wonder what Stella will do to punish me either before or after tonight's date.