Page 1 of Secrets

Alexi Babin is the head of the Babin Mafia Family in Noxus City, South Carolina. Inheriting the undesired title after his father’s death, Alexi, along with his brother, Nikolai, and cousin, Eddie, run the empire in a new, more profitable and equitable way.

The updated operations and subsequent family success garnered the attention of a cartel gang to the West in Georgia. The cartel, at war with the Babin family for several years, strongly desires to take Noxus City. So far, they have only caused minor inconveniences that Alexi has enjoyed returning as they help to distract him from other, more serious, inconveniences.

For one, his late father signed a contract that he would marry a daughter to Accardi family whose empire is in the northern United States. For another, a forensic FBI agent, that he may or may not have had relations with, is hell bent on taking him and his entire operation down.

To help you catch up with the overarching plot, feel free to read the recaps below. Be warned, however, that they do contain spoilers.

**Spoilers Ahead**

Chances

Sofia, the original daughter Alexi was meant to wed, managed to reject the wedding and forced it on her cousin, Sabreena. Sabreena, the introverted potter, was then picked up by Alexi’s Lawyer, and faithful right hand, Lucian, who brought her to Noxus City. Upon arrival, it became very clear, very quickly that neither Alexi nor Sabreena wanted to follow through with the arrangement, but Sabreena was to begin planning the wedding regardless.

Due to Alexi’s ongoing war with the cartel, and the responsibility of keeping Sabreena safe with the possibility of a rat on his payroll, Alexi assigned Lucian to babysit. Lucian, on a five-year contract to serve Alexi under blackmail, reluctantly began his additional role. Unfortunately, the time together caused feelings to develop betweenLucian and his boss’s fiancé.

Though Alexi had no desire to marry Sabreena, the budding relationship was not only disrespectful but a show of undermining to which he would need to make a statement, most likely in the form of killing Lucian.

Alexi, however, knew his right hand was worth far more to him alive, and gave Lucian a deal; scrap the five years and work for him indefinitely while keeping Sabreena. Or die.

Lucian chose the former, thereby giving Alexi more time to be a bachelor while also helping him with the cartel situation.

Desires

Nikolai Babin, a surgeon and enforcer to the Babin Family, found a way into the cartel nest by befriending the “don’s” girlfriend, Dominique. As a softball coach with a team going to nationals, she needed a sponsor to help afford the expedition, so Nikolai offered his hospitality.

While getting closer to Dominique, Nikolai learned the don, Julio Juarez, also the mayor of a town in Georgia, was not the don, but simply the puppet of the real one. This fraud worked with the federal agent hell-bent on taking out the Babin family, and his plan was simple.

First, he must help the agent put the Babins in jail. Then, win his run to be governor with the promise to eradicate the cartel running rampant in Georgia. And lastly, once he was elected governor, he would make the cartel “disappear” by moving them to Noxus, the city they want. Everyone wins.

His error came when he tried to kill Dominique for breaking up with him. By doing that, he only ended up with Nikolai poison in his veins, and later filling a slab at the morgue.

Unfortunately for Niko, a careful and meticulous individual, doing this was rash and fueled by emotion given his relationship with Dominique, and he left the vial of his poison at the scene of the crime. A scene where the federal agent found it.

And so, our story begins…

“Ihavegotto know…”

A voice that grates my nerves down to raw strings echoes from behind a thin wall separating my storefront from the back room. “Why does this place smell so weird?”

My eyes squeeze shut, a premature headache blooming in my temples. One would think I’d be accustomed to him, or perhaps have acquired the ability to ignore him, but alas, I have not.

For a few steadying breaths, I consider making the fool—who is likely touching something he shouldn’t—wait until I’m done with my current task, but decide against it. He will only end up breaking a vase or knocking over a plant if I do.

Running my hands down my face, I push to my feet and emerge from behind the aged beads draped over the small doorway. As expected, I’m greeted with the profile of Alexi Babin running his fingers over the stem of aMonstera deliciosa.

Today, his long hair is pulled back into a bun, the ends peeking recklessly from the black band holding it loosely together. A midnight blue button-down clings to his body, showcasing a lean but muscular frame, while suspenders dangle at his side, resting against his tailored slacks.

At this angle, I’m able to appreciate the beauty in God’s fallen angel, and can admit if I were a lesser woman—or perhaps mentally unwell—I might find him desirable. Since I am neither, I only find his presence utterly taxing instead.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask, slipping behind my counter and keeping my demeanor calm. I make my hands busy with cutting the twine I leave out to finish wrapping bouquet orders. Better to do that than possibly stab him in the throat with a pair of my good scissors.

“It’s the bodies, isn’t it? You use them in your compost.” Alexi’s smirk is broad. “Smart. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and all.”

“Alexi.” My voice is a command and question twisted together, and fortunately, he heeds the request.

“Fuck my pleasantries, then. Straight to business.” He turns, slipping both hands into his slacks. The top few buttons of his shirt are undone, giving way to a myriad of tattoos covering his tan chest, along with a small bandage almost fully soaked through with blood. “You should already know why I’m here. I do believe it’s foryourbenefit, after all, that I didn’t say what I wanted when I came by with my brother.”

I nod once, recalling the very brief meeting we had a few days ago. Nikolai, Alexi’s brother and enforcer to the Babin Family, is the sole proprietor of a plant I grow that he uses in a toxin. Niko made the mistake of leaving a vial of it at a murder scene, and a federal agent had the contents analyzed. They both stopped by to warn me that I may be receiving visits from the authorities and not to worry because they would handle it. I should have figured that was too good to be true.

---