Stella

I stood in front of the mirror in silence, something I have forgotten the sound of. With new-born twins there is rarely anytime to hear your own thoughts, add on being surrounded by mafia men and the odds go down even more.

Is this what peace is like?

My babies are now five months old, my perfect little babies. After coming home from the hospital and knowing that Carnellio is dead, everything in my life went back to normal. It's a bit spooky in the way it felt natural to get back to spending my days with Max, raising the twins, fighting to get my twins back after someone in the family decide to pick them up and not want to put down. Plus, I have been working with the carpenters fixing the store and fancying it up. Life has been... well it's been normal and easy to fit in.

There are nights where it's hard to sleep but that has little to do with Carnellio in my dreams and instead crying babies who want to be fed. There are nights and days where I am so sleep deprived I would sleep standing up, those are the days that tell me I wasn't living a dream. That yes, this is reality, living in my house with Max and some of the Sorrentino boys with my children, going to family dinners, having Anthony and Cody over.

This was real and this is my new life.

And today, this will make it even clearer of the truth of my new life. But it would be a new life where I will have a different name and a closer relationship with Max.

My hands ran down my white, sweetheart lace wedding gown. It fit me perfectly because it was made specifically for me. I felt tears threatening to fall thinking about how Anthony had brought me a box after I told him Max and I will be getting married soon. In the box had been the dress and a note from my Nanna. She had given Anthony the box in case she wasn't able to give it me personally. The note saying, she made this last year and wanted to make sure she was a part of my wedding even if she couldn't make it. Max had found me crying over the box and I had to throw a pillow at him saying he wasn't allowed to see it.

Taking a breath, I cleared the tears, today was not a day to cry. My Nanna is here with me and that is something to smile about, not cry. Looking back at the mirror I wasn't sure what to do. The dress was on. My makeup done. Hair is up.

Now I wait? A smile formed on my lips as my heart warmed up, wait to marry Maximus.

A few knocks sounded at the door behind me making me call out. "Come in!"

The door slowly opened showing Lorenzo walking into the room in a three-piece suit. He stopped at the door as he looked at me, a soft smile appearing on his face. "Sei bellissima. My brother is one lucky man."

Turning around, I smile at the man I once feared would never approve of me. "Thank you, Lorenzo, but I think I am the lucky one."

He waved his hand closing the door behind him and walked over to me. "Nonsense, takes a special woman to deal with him on a day to day basis. Where is everyone?"

Chuckling I thought back to how just five minutes earlier it was anything but silent. "The twins got a little fussy so Esperenza and Anastasia took them to get changed and fresh air. Anthony is late, something about a flat tire."

Lorenzo chuckled. "My niece and nephew already proving themselves to have Sorrentino blood. Please turn towards the mirror."

Looking at him sceptically I did as he said, my eyes watching him through the mirror. "Why?"

He pulled something out of his suit pocket, a black velvet box in his hands. "I must apologize for how I treated you when I met you, I only wanted to protect my family. I shouldn't have been such a dick as I was when you came for dinner."

I let out a large laugh, the action helping to release some stress of this day. Shrugging I tried to see what he had, but my body blocked my view in the mirror. "There is no reason to apologize Lorenzo, if I were in your shoes I would have felt the same and most likely done the same."

The sound of a box snapping shut filled the room and Lorenzo stood closer to my back, his hands coming around my neck and something dropped on my chest. "All the same, you have proven yourself the best woman I could hope for my brother. I found this the other night and decided you should have it. This necklace once belonged to my mother and I know she would have been proud to call you her daughter."

I felt my body stop breathing, I no longer could take a breath when I focused on the necklace that now graced my skin. There was a large teardrop sapphire diamond, with smaller white diamonds surrounding it. The chain reached above the top of my breasts.

Lorenzo clasped it around my neck and took a step back, letting me take in the necklace. "There, fits perfectly."

"Lorenzo." I whispered, barely able to talk from the shock of the gift. "This necklace, I can't accept it, it's too much."

My hand went to gently touch the gems, feeling the soft and coldness of their touch telling me that he really did give me a multi diamond necklace.

He shook his head behind me, coming to stand beside me and took my hand. "We will not be doing something where you say you can't accept, I say you can't give it back because then we will be going back and forth for so long you will miss your wedding."

I chuckled, my hand tightening around Lorenzo's and I turned to face him. "I'm sure Max would come in, pick me over his shoulder and drop me at the alter if I was a minute past my time."

"True, the man is barely holding himself together at the moment." He checked his suit in the mirror then turned to me. "As for the necklace. Different mafia families have certain gems that represent them, for the Sorrentinos it is sapphires. You should wear it proudly, you have proven yourself in this family."

"Esperenza has a ruby?" I asked, still shocked at the necklace and what he is saying.

His eyes went to my necklace then back to me. "Her first family is Martinez Cartel, she gets the Ruby from them though she does have a sapphire necklace as well. But you are a true Sorrentino now and it would mean much to the family to carry the one our mother used to wear."

The fact that his mother wore this necklace and that he, another Sorrentino brother, believes that Max's mother would accept me, had my hands coming to wave my eyes to keep me from crying. "Anastasia would kill me if I ruined her makeup."

Lorenzo chuckled and took out his handkerchief, passing it to me. "There is not much I fear, but pissing off that little Russian is one of them."

Chuckling I took the handkerchief and dabbed my eyes, careful to not touch any of the makeup and smug it.

The door pushed open, Anthony rushing into the room looking dapper in his suit. "Sorry I'm late, flat tire."

I rolled my eyes. "Is that what we are calling it these days."

Anthony gave a shocked face. "Such a dirty mind and on your wedding day." His gaze went over to Lorenzo, his brow going up. "Are we switching brothers at the last moment? It may make things a bit messy having twins with one brother and running away with the other but hey your life and you only have a few more moments before you are officially tied to Maximus."

Lorenzo raised an un-impressed brow before looking to me. "I shall see you out there Stella."

I gave him a smile, my hand on the necklace that once belonged to his and Max's mother. "Thank you for this Lorenzo, it means more than you can know."

He gave me a smile and kissed my cheek. With that the leader of the family walked out of the room leaving me with Anthony who ogled Lorenzo.

I lightly cleared my throat drawing Anthony's attention. "Don't make me tell your fiancé you can't be trusted around the Sorrentinos."

Anthony shook his head. "That body guard of yours, Tate, still flirts with Cody. If he gets to be flirted with, I am allowed to appreciate these men, not like I would ever touch. And can you tell me honestly you haven't done the same."

I scowled but didn't say anything. I have made mental comments about the attractiveness of the Sorrentino men, but that is all. But from Anthony's grin, he could read my face and knew I have done what he has.

"So." Anthony said. "The final question, we doing this or should I let you know that I do have your passport on me and I can have Cody grab the kids?"

Laughing I shook my head. "No, I appreciate the back-up plan but I am ready and happily choosing to get married to Max."

Anthony gave a sigh of relief. "Thank god, I only have a donut on my car since I didn't have time to get a new tire before coming here. And as much as Max respects you, if you were to run I can see Max and his men coming after us. My car won't make it far with a donut."

I scoffed at him. "You say you have a plan in case I needed to run when in actuality you don't have the means to execute the plan?"

"So, demanding." Anthony gave me his arm, a broad smile across his face. "Shall we?"

With a nod I took his arm in mine, Anthony beginning to lead me out of the room. Max would be outside already along with everyone who will be attending the wedding.

Stepping out of the door and onto the back patio, I looked out towards the garden before me. People sitting in chairs watching me, Lorenzo at the end to officiate but I wasn't focused on them. Down the aisle in front of Lorenzo stood my man, Max, my other half.

Max was wearing a tux, Romano standing beside him holding little Sophia, Alaric being held by Anastasia siting up front. Max always looks handsome but today, he looked even more like an Italian super model who took my breath away. His facial hair was growing longer, his hair also longer and styled perfectly; I can't wait to run my fingers through it.

Making eye contact with Max, a large smile grew on my face, his eyes soft with a warm smile. My heart began to flutter, wanting to be standing beside him already to give our vows and be tied together officially.

Taking a step down the aisle I couldn't take my eyes off him.

Here's to the rest of my life.