Maximus

"This is taking too long." Romano said pacing inside Lorenzo's estate office where the three of us were sitting. "We should be tearing them apart not still waiting on Luka decoding internet shit."

Lorenzo leaned back in his chair. "Calm down."

Romano glared and continued pacing. "Calm? Carnellio is still underground and working with our enemies to strike at us. And here we are, sitting and waiting. We should be hunting them down."

"Romano." Lorenzo said slowly. "We are not fools. We know that Carnellio is working with others but we don't know who is helping him stay hidden. We have a long list of enemies, it would be foolish to hunt blindly."

Running a hand through my hair I fought myself from rising to Romano's emotions. "Romano, no one wants to make Carnellio suffer more than me. We can't do that if we jump at every enemy's throat. It would alienate ourselves and make him go underground deeper. We must wait till we know where Carnellio is and who he's been working with."

Lorenzo nodded. "We must be patient and ready to act when we get all the facts."

Romano made himself a drink. "I hate waiting."

"Learn to." Lorenzo scolded.

"Fine. So Sebastian? What we think?" Romano asked bringing his drink to his lips.

I looked to Lorenzo. "He saved Stella's life and has been dedicated to her charge. Think he would be a great man to wear our mark."

Lorenzo nodded. "I agree, he has shown himself worthy, decision now lies with Stella."

Tilting my head, I wondered why it would be up to Stella. It took five seconds for it to click. "No." I growled making Lorenzo give me a look for my attitude.

He stood up, walked to his drink counter, picked up a bottle and poured himself a glass. "Bylaws state that if a member of the family is saved by a man who is still proving themselves, whoever was saved marks them. Stella is your woman and carrying your child, she marks him."

Standing up I shook my head. "One she is pregnant, she can barely even stomach smelling certain food and now she has to smell burning flesh? Fuck no. And second this is Stella, she is pure and innocent, branding someone goes against everything she is."

Lorenzo slowly turned to face me, his chin lifting up to give off cool air making him full Don mode. "Stella accepts being with you. She wants to be part of this family, she must do what that entails. Marking."

Shaking my head, I paced. "He saved her before she knew me and accepted the family. You could still mark him for that, or I will since she is tied to me."

"Your testing her." Romano mused to Lorenzo making me scoff in agreement.

Lorenzo walked behind his desk sitting back down while he kept eye contact. "It's time to see if she can live in this life Maximus. This is her crossroad."

Shaking my head, I button my jacket. "Stella has a big heart, any mafia business she needs to do as a Sorrentino should small, that's what she said. Stella shouldn't be thrown over a bridge with no life jacket and told to handle it. Branding is too much, too fast."

"She needs to show how she responds to her responsibility, it is not about her but the family. Sebastian will be marked by her; she can either do it now or wait till she is ready." Lorenzo kept his face still. "Better her find out if she can handle this now versus later."

Rule of the family: whoever comes in must prove themselves before they can be trusted.

But this is too much. "I'm not telling her that she is commanded to brand someone. She is pregnant and I'm not going to have her break her loving nature. I'll mark him for what he has done for Stella."

Romano sat uncomfortably in his chair most likely from the rising tension in the room. "It's not your decision brothers, ask Stella. If she doesn't think she is ready for it or will be sick from being pregnant than Maximus should do it. But, I agree with Maximus, Lorenzo, it's too much for her, too soon or ever. Don't try to break her."

Lorenzo raised a brow at us. "Well good thing, as Romano has pointed out, it won't be your decision but hers."

Walking to my chair I grabbed my coat, slipping it on. "Thought you said you weren't going to be a dick about her."

"I'm not being a dick. I'm being supportive, giving her the chance to prove herself. She's got eyes on her, people need to see how strong she is to shut people up and make them proud." Lorenzo replied with a face one could think was giving sympathy. But right now, I'm too pissed to think that he is right. "Sorry Maximus, it's the way things are. Stella has given me no reason to doubt her, I'm starting to think she may actually be good enough for you."

Buttoning my jacket, I chuckle. "Careful, that's starting to sound like full approval."

He put his hands up. "Told me to be supportive, bringing my pessimism down for her."

Flipping him off I leave his office heading out to my woman.

Stella has a gentle heart, one that won't change over time. She will be true to that gentleness for the rest of her life. But she has an edge to her, one she doesn't bring out often but is still there. My mother was similar, heart of gold but everyone knew if she needed to turn cold she would.

That is what people are looking for. To see if Stella has what it takes to be with me, to be with the family. Her relationship with me, even for a short time still makes her a Sorrentino, especially when she is carrying my child. But the thought of Stella having to bend some of her gentleness for Sorrentino life breaks my heart.

If she says yes or no, it doesn't matter to me, everyone can fucking wait for her to prove herself. She owes them nothing.

Walking out of the house I jump into my car and head to 'London Threads'. It only took me thirty minutes to arrive, pulling the car up in front of the store.

Stepping out I nod across the road where Sebastian and Tate are watching. Them sending me a nod back telling me things have been fine today.

Pushing the door open I find Stella instantly at her desk, her head bent down typing on her computer with her agenda in her hand. Hearing the bell ring above the door her gorgeous face turns towards me, a soft smile immediately spreading on her face.

"Hey." She said softly putting her agenda down and walked to me. "What's going on you have your mafia face on."

Looking around the store I check for any clients. With the place empty I lead her to the back office for privacy. "How are you feeling today? Have you been watching your stress level? Eating enough? What about your hydration."

She placed her fingers on my mouth chuckling, my rambling cut short. Her eyes sparkled while her other hand rested on her stomach bump, over our unborn child. "I feel great Max, now when are you going to tell me what is going on?"

Taking a breath, I tried to be ready to ask her something I don't want her to feel obliged to do. With a forced smile I led her to a chair. Sitting down I pull her onto my lap, my hand taking its place over our child.

Stella chuckled. "I'm going to squish you."

Wrapping my arm around her I keep her right where she is. "You are beautiful, don't ever think otherwise."

She pursed her lips, her eyes taking me in. "You are still dodging the reason you are here and trying to get lucky tonight. Get talking underboss, that's an order."

Smirking, I slap her ass. "Or what? How would you punish me, mi amore?"

A teasing smile crossed her face. "Oh, I have my ways. Now talk."

Not being able to push it off any longer, I rub a hand down her spine. "Remember when I told you that when I got my position within the mafia I got my brand?"

She nodded hesitantly with a flinch. "Still don't understand why it has to be a brand."

Nodding to her, I begin rubbing her stomach. "Tradition, it shows the dedication and strength of whoever has proven themselves to be a part of the family. Now, usually the Don does the branding but there is a bylaw that states if the person saves a member of the Sorrentino direct family they are the one to brand."

Pursing her lips, she nods. "Okay?"

"Sebastian saved your life." My eyes focused on hers, her brows pitched together in both concentration and confusion. "And now his main job is being your protection, he serves you because you are now a Sorrentino."

Her head snapped back, her mind picking up what I'm avoiding.

"You want me to brand Sebastian?" She asked horrified standing up to pacing the room. Getting up from the chair I nod reluctantly. "I don't get it, I'm not a Sorrentino."

I lean against her desk where Stella stopped pacing, my hand going to her neck picking up the ring she carries. "You carry my ring, therefore my name. Sebastian saved you, and you are a Sorrentino by your connection to me. The bylaws say that you are the one who has the right to brand and let him into the family."

"And if I don't?" She asked taking multiple steps back, horror on her face at what she is being asked to do.

Sighing I unbutton my blazer. "He doesn't get it."

The room transcended into the silence, the only sound was the jazz music that played in the store.

"Okay." She said in a small voice.

My brows shot up. "You will agree to mark him?"

Stella sighed leaning against her desk beside me. "I have to be a part of your life and being with you comes a role with duties. I have no right choosing which ones I can follow nor is it fair to Sebastian to deny him his position in your mafia. So, if your bylaws say that I owe him the mark, then I will brand him." I watched her stand there, her hand protectively over her stomach. "Those are words I never expected out of my mouth."

Taking a step forward I gather her in my arms. "You don't have to do this, I'll talk to Lorenzo about him being a dick and I'll mark Sebastian."

Stella ran a hand though her hair. "I can't do that though, can't pawn off a duty that should be mine. Yes, I don't want to brand someone, but I also know that being with you comes with responsibilities to the family. I have to prove myself to be worthy of being with you and capable. If I am told that I owe a branding, I brand."

I still wanted her out of this, she never signed up for branding. "Duty is something you are born into or train for, not having to pick up on a random Sunday."

Stella hummed with a shrug. "Respect has to be earned, I said I'm in, now I have to prove it. When is it planned?"

I rolled my lips. "We do formal events on Sundays."

Stella's breath hitched. "So tomorrow."

Shaking my head, I scoffed. "No, we can plan this in advance. I already don't want you doing this, definitely don't want you doing this before your ready."

Stella leaned against me, my arm wrapping around her. "So, make it a Sunday months from now to emotionally prepare or do it tomorrow and get it over with."