COOKIE - CHAPTER 33&34

🍪 CAN’T HIDE ANYMORE 🍪

“Shût the fûçk! Shut all the way the fûçk up till you reach the top of shut fûçk mountain where there are no more fûçk ups to shut!!!” She yelled, eyes narrowing as she wiped her hands clean with the handkerchief yet again, her mind racing.

Gosh, she felt like snapping the bîtches neck.

The room was tense, thick with unspoken words and shifting glances.

The vodka she’d splashed in Regina’s face still dripped from her chin, and the smug smirk that had been there moments ago was now wiped clean.

“So,” Cookie began, her voice low and dangerous.

“who’s been running their mouth?” She asked, her gaze shifting from one person to another.

Regina, still clutching her stinging face, sneered at Cookie but said nothing.

The silence in the room was heavy, and no one dared to meet Cookie’s gaze. The big boss, a man of few words, leaned forward in his chair, his eyes locked on Cookie.

“You think you can have a family and still be loyal to the clan?” he asked, his voice cold.

“You think we wouldn’t find out?”

Cookie’s heart pounded, but she kept her expression neutral.

Of course, they didn’t know. They never knew and she’d hoped it would remain that way but I guess things aren’t always the way we want it to be. But the question now was, who had betrayed her?

Her gaze flicked to Regina, who was trying too hard to look unaffected.

“I didn’t think it mattered,” Cookie replied, her voice steady.

“I’ve done my job. Always.” she pointed out.

The boss’s eyes darkened.

“You know the rules, Cookie. Family makes you weak. It makes you a liability…”

“Or it makes me stronger,” Cookie countered, her tone sharp.

“I’ve never failed the clan.” she added, clutching her fist by her side.

Regina finally spoke, her voice dripping with venom.

“You’re slipping, Cookie. Getting soft. That’s why you’ve been delaying your assignment, isn’t it? Too busy playing house mouse?” she spats, spiting out blood as she speaks.

Cookie’s jaw tightened. So it was Regina. The snake had been feeding the boss lîés, stirring the pot, trying to undermine her.

She took a step toward Regina, and the room collectively held its breath.

“Is that what you think?” Cookie asked, her voice deceptively calm.

“That I’m soft?”

Regina flinched but stood her ground.

“You’ve changed. Everyone sees it.” Regina let out.

Cookie moved so quickly that Regina didn’t have time to react. In an instant, Cookie had her pinned against the wall, her hand wrapped around Regina’s throat.

The others in the room didn’t dare move.

“You don’t know a d@mn thing about me,” Cookie hissed, her face inches from Regina’s.

“If you think for one second that having a family makes me weak, you’re dêâd wrong. I will protect what’s mine, but I will never betray this clan.” she bellowed

Regina’s eyes widened in fear, her bravado crumbling under Cookie’s iron grip.

“I’m not the one who’s been delaying anything,” Cookie continued, her voice low and lethal.

“But if you want to see what happens when you push me, keep running your mouth.” she tightened her grip around Regina’s neck.

Regina struggled, eyes turning red as she struggled to released Cookies hold on her.

The boss cleared his throat, breaking the tension.

“Enough,” he commanded, and Cookie slowly released Regina, who collapsed against the wall, gasping for air.

“This isn’t over,” the boss said, his tone final.

“You have one more chance, Cookie. Finish the job, or you’ll find out just how weak we think you are.” Big Daddy said finally, his tone showing no emotions at all.

Cookie stepped back, her expression hard as steel. She gave Big Daddy a curt nod before turning on her heel and walking out, leaving the room in stunned silence.

As she walked down the hallway, she felt the eyes of the other clan members on her, their whispers following her like shadows.

But Cookie didn’t care. She had bigger problems now.

Regina’s betrayal had painted a target on her back, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before the clan made their move.

The only question was, who would strike first? Her or the clan?

•

Same night

Jennifer stood in the dimly lit phone booth, the cold air of the night biting at her skin through her worn jacket.

It was a miracle she survived, thanks to the swimming trainings she got during highschool and middle school.

She would have been dêâd if she wasn’t a good swimmer. She had a hoodie covering her head and a long trouser with a facemask.

Her heart pounded as she punched in the familiar number, each ring echoing in her ears like a ticking clock.

When her mother’s voice finally came through, Jennifer didn’t waste any time.

“I need a hundred dollars,” Jennifer demanded, her voice low and urgent.

“I need to get out of state tonight.” she added, looking around as though someone was coming for her.

Of course she was all over the news, WANTED!

There was a pause on the other end, her mother’s breath shaky as she tried to grasp the situation.

“Jennifer… why did you do it? Why did you knock Juliet down? What have you done…. Just why are you doing all these?” She asked, trying not to break into tears.

“Juliet deserves it,” Jennifer snapped, her grip tightening on the phone.

“She’s always been a problem….”

“Jennifer, she’s still your little sister,” her mother cut in sharply.

“I warned her! Why are you making me look like monster when I warned her of the consequences of her actions?” She yelled into the phone.

” She could have dîêd…”

“I don’t care!!! listen, Mom, if you don’t give me that money, I’m going to tell Dad everything. Every single thing you’ve done…. and I’ll show him the video. Do you really want that?” she asked, clearly thr_@tening her mother like she always does.

Her mother’s breath hitched, the weight of Jennifer’s words sinking in.

The silence was heavy, filled with a mix of fear, guilt, and desperation.

“I’ll figure something out,” her mother finally said, her voice trembling.

“Good,” Jennifer muttered, before slamming the receiver back onto the hook.

She stood there for a moment, her heart still racing, knowing she had just tightened the noose around her mother’s neck.

On the other end of the line, Mrs. Gregory sat frozen, the phone slipping from her hand as she stared blankly at the wall.

Her mind raced with thoughts of her life unraveling. How could she explain everything to her husband? How could she ever make him understand the web of lîés and deceit she had spun?

The thought alone was suffocating, and the room suddenly felt too small, too close.

She closed her eyes, trying to think of a way out, but there was none. The truth was coming for her, and it was only a matter of time before her whole world came crashing down.

She didn’t hear her husband’s footsteps until he was almost beside her.

“Who was calling at this hour?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern as he descended the last few steps.

She looked up at him, her face pale and drawn, the words stuck in her throat. But she knew she couldn’t delay this any longer.

“I want a divorce,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes widened in shock, and he stopped in his tracks, staring at her as if he hadn’t heard correctly.

“Are you insane?” he asked, his voice rising in disbelief.

“Where is this coming from?”

She bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that were thr_@tening to spill over. She couldn’t bring herself to answer, the guilt and fear choking her.

He stepped closer, his tone a mixture of frustration and bewilderment.

“We’ve been married for years. I’ve never hit you, never cheated on you, never treated you badly, even when you didn’t want…” he paused, lowering his voice.

“Even when you didn’t want séx.”

She flinched at his words, her gaze dropping to the floor.

“I helped you grow your business into what it is today,” he continued, his voice laced with a cold anger.

“You know that, don’t you? Half of it will be mine if you step out of this marriage. Héll, it might even be all of it. And you? You’ll be left with nothing.”

That last word echoed in the room, filling the space between them with a cold, harsh reality.

Mrs. Gregory felt the walls closing in, her breath coming in shallow gasps as the tears she had been holding back finally broke free.

She collapsed onto the couch, her body trembling as sobs wracked her frame. The weight of her choices, the lîés, the secrets… they all bore down on her with crushing force.

She covered her face with her hands, her heart breaking under the pressure of the life she had tried so desperately to hold together.

Her husband stood there, watching her, his own emotions a tangled mess of confusion, anger, and hûrt.

But he didn’t move to comfort her. Instead, he simply turned and walked away, leaving her alone with her tears and the unbearable weight of her own mistakes.

“Honey, wait!!” She spring to her feet before he could get to the stairs.

He paused but didn’t turn to look at her.

“I…” She twisted her fingers then swallowed

“I… I che….. I cheated,” she lowered her head her voice barely audible.

For a brief moment he didn’t speak, he just stood there watching her.

“What who?” He finally asked after minutes of silence, the silence that felt like tearing her souls apart.

She slowly lifted her head, shaking it sideways

“Who was it Bethany,” he asked, his tone thatw as once calm and gentle now switched to an angry cold tone.

“You don’t wanna know….”

“I said with who?” He demanded, cutting her off before she could finish wh@??ver she was saying.

Streams of tears came rushing down her eyes and she took a step closer.

“Honey, you don’t want to know….”

“Bethany!!!!” His voice rose, high to send anyone nearly crumbling to their knees

“Your brother,” she didn’t know when it left her throat and she regretted all of it.

As Cookie stepped out of the clan, the cool night air greeted her with an unsettling stillness.

Her mind was racing, replaying the events that had just transpired inside. She was lost in thought when she spotted Lucius leaning casually against her bike, his tall frame silhouetted by the faint glow of a nearby clanlamp.

“Need a lift?” His voice was smooth, calm, almost too polite.

It was the voice of a man she had once admired, once dreamed of spending the rest of her with.

Cookie’s eyes narrowed slightly, her guard immediately going up.

“What are you doing on my bike, Lucius?” she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.

Lucius smiled, a gentleman’s smile, as he straightened up, moving with the grace of a predator who knew not to startle its prey.

“Just thought you might appreciate a ride home,” he replied, his voice carrying an edge of familiarity that Cookie didn’t like.

She didn’t know she didn’t like his voice anymore, even though he said horrible things to her in the past, she never stopped seeing his face in her dreams.

“After the night you’ve had, it’s the least I could do.” he added sweetly.

Cookie glanced around, weighing her options. Lucius was dangerous, she knew that much, but right now, she wasn’t in the mood for another confrontation.

She needed time to think, to plan her next move. To protect everyone around her.

She took a deep breath and met his gaze.

“Fine. But I’m driving,” she said, snatching the keys from his hand before he could protest.

Lucius’s smile widened as he stepped back, letting her take the lead.

“As you wish,” he said, his tone light, but there was something behind his eyes—something that told Cookie this wasn’t just a simple offer of a ride home.

She climbed onto the bike, feeling the familiar hum as she started the engine.

Lucius slid onto the seat behind her, his presence heavy and close.

“Let’s go,” Cookie said, her voice firm as she revved the engine, taking off into the night with Lucius clinging to her back.

The ride home was tense, with the sound of the roaring engine filling the silence between them.

Cookie’s thoughts were a whirlwind, but she kept her focus on the road. She just couldn’t feel it anymore, that familiar feeling she hâtêd but love at the same time.

As they pulled up to her place, she brought the bike to a smooth stop. Lucius was quick to dismount, and she followed, her boots hitting the pavement with a quiet thud.

She moved toward the door, But before she could reach the handle, she felt a firm grip on her wrist.

She spun around, eyes narrowing as she glared at Lucius.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Her voice was cold, laced with a warning.

Lucius met her gaze, his expression softened by something she hadn’t seen in him before—remorse.

“Cookie, wait,” he began, his tone earnest.

“I know I’ve said and done things in the past that… well, let’s just say I wasn’t exactly fair to you. But I’m here now, trying to make it right.”

She tried to pull her hand free, but his grip tightened, not painfully, but enough to keep her from walking away.

“I’ve messed up every single one. But I want to start over. New friendships, new beginnings. We don’t have to keep looking at each other like enemies.” he said sincerely.

Cookie’s gaze softened, just a fraction, as she searched his face for any sign of deceit.

There was a time when she would have believed him without question, but that time had passed. Now, trust was something he’d have to earn, not just ask for.

“Why now?” she asked, her voice quieter, but still holding an edge.

“What’s changed?”

Lucius let go of her hand, taking a step back as he ran a hand through his hair, a rare gesture of uncertainty.

“I’ve had time to think, and I realized that I don’t want to be that guy anymore, the one who keeps making enemies out of people who could be… more.” he pause, licking his lips.

She folded her arms, considering his words.

“More?” she echoed, skepticism lacing her tone.

“Friends, allies… wh@??ver you want to call it,” he said with a small shrug.

“I just don’t want us to keep fîghtîng or seeing each other like enemies, not when we could be working together.” he said softly.

Cookie let out a slow breath, the tension in her shoulders easing just slightly.

“We’ll see,” she finally said, turning back toward the door.

“But don’t think for a second that I’ve forgotten what you did.” she said then held her door handle.

Lucius nodded, his expression serious.

“I wouldn’t expect you to. But maybe, with time, we can move past it.” he replied

Without another word, she walked inside, the door clicking shut behind her, leaving Lucius standing alone in the cool night air.

He stared at the closed door for a moment longer, then turned and walked away, the hope of a new beginning lingering in the air between them.

As Cookie stepped inside, the door closed softly behind her, shutting out the night and all the uncertainty that came with it.

The warmth of her home enveloped her, but before she could fully take it in, she felt strong arms wrap around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“Collins,” she called unsure but she knew he was the only one that can hold her like that.

His familiar scent, a mix of musk and something uniquely his filled her senses, and for the first time that night, she felt a sense of calm wash over her.

“I missed you,” he whispered, his voice a low, soothing murmur against her ear.

His hold on her was firm, protective, as if he was trying to shield her from everything that had happened outside.

Her heart pounded against her ribcage, the rhythm quickening with every breath she took.

She wasn’t sure why she felt so excited, so alive, but she couldn’t deny the warmth spreading through her chest.

Collins tilted his head, brushing his lips against her cheek in a tender kiss. His mouth moved down to her neck, leaving a trail of soft, reverent kisses along her skin, each one igniting a spark that traveled straight to her core.

She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch, letting the tension of the day melt away.

He continued, his lips worshiping her face, gentle kisses landing on her forehead, her eyelids, her nose…every part of her that he could reach.

It was as if he was memorizing her, making up for the minutes they’d been apart.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, and she let herself get lost in the moment, in the feeling of being cared for, of being wanted.

The worries that had been weighing her down slipped to the back of her mind as she focused on the man holding her, his presence grounding her in a way nothing else could.

She didn’t need to say anything; the emotions swirling between them were enough.

The way he held her, the way he kissed her, it was all the reassurance she needed that, at least in this moment, she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

Collins’ lips hovered over hers, their breath mingling as the world around them faded into nothing.

His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin, igniting a fire that burned through her entire body.

“Sweet-Cookie,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

“I can’t keep pretending I don’t want you.” His voice was husky making her shiver.

the intensity of his gaze making her heart race. Without another word, he closed the distance, capturing her mouth in a kiss so deep, so passionate, it stole her breath away.

She melted into him, her hands clutching his shirt as if holding on for dear life.