Page 26 of Cookie: Part One
“Will do!” I nod, yawning already, drifting off to sleep.
“God... I can already tell zhis vill be zee reunion from hell,” she mutters, leaving before closing the door behind her, and I smile mischievously.Reunion from hell for you… a fun house for me!
CHAPTER EIGHT
CONSTANCE
Istretch my body, feeling utterly rejuvenated as I make my away out of the whole ass private massage parlorin thehouse!Yes, bitch! Not only do they have a massage parlor, but even a salon for hair and nails. So not only did I get my back cracked, I got my twists refreshed and my nails done, too!
And I felt like a billion fucking dollars while doing it too! To be fair, my eyes were closed because they did that lil’ face mask and lime slice combo on my eyes, but when I did see it my jaw dropped, to the point the bitch damn near locked on me.
The massive room with several different stations for hair styling and nail work were wild to haveinsidea damn house in the first place, but the damn marble floors and light fixtures that cost about ninety times what’s in my 401k had theaudacityto call a bitch broker than Kenny from South Park.Those bastards!
So while my body still aches, it’s not as bad this morning because the water they made me sit in really felt like it had some type of healing properties. At first, I thought Pyper was bullshitting me, but nope, I really feel better.
“Champagne, Miss?” a waiter asks me as I enter the foyer, and I smile, taking the flute, really feeling like I’m in another world.I can’t believe their family really rolling around with this much money, but Pyper wants to date my brother of all people?! Ugh.
I take a sip of the champagne, giggling to myself when the bubbles tingle my nose as I make my way further into the house where I hear the chatter happening so I can take a peek into the wealth. But once I step inside, I have to pause and my jaw drops.There’s fine, cold-looking Russians everywhere! Whew!
I feel like Oprah in here.You get a fine Russian, you get a fine Russian, you get a fine Russian!But I keep my thoughts to myself and let my eyes sweep across the room, taking in everyone’s faces, looking out for Pyper, Alik and Grandpa Viktor specifically, but I can’t lie and say I’m not looking for my sexy little trio as well.
But as I scan the room I can’t help but feel like the air is laced with something dangerous that makes me almost flee, but I don’t. I’d told Pyper I wouldn’t participate in the events since these were apparently very important family meet ups for some specific purpose, so my ass is just supposed to be background noise. Still, I want to peek in and say hi to Grandpa Viktor.
And of course, I spot him easily enough. He’s sitting on a brown leather couch near the fireplace, cane in hand topped with a snarling silver bear. He looks like a Bond villain. A cold-blooded one. Which is wild, because to me he’s just sweet ol’ Grandpa Viktor.
Anyone looking can tell that he’s the patriarch of the family because he’s the center of attention, and everyone happens to be gathered around him speaking. I then see Pyper in the corner on the far side of by herself on her phone, and I roll my eyes because undoubtedly, she’s on the phone with my apple head ass brother.
But I don’t see Alik. My eyes sweep the room looking for him, but I feel my heart sputter when I notice someone watching me, locking eyes with Misha. His gaze is intense, as if he’s been staring at me the entire time. I don’t know if he thinks I’m going to break the stare, but I don’t. I just keep on keeping on, sipping my champagne and running my tongue on the rim, smirking when I see his jaw tick before he licks his lips.
I would have kept my eyes on him, but I cut them over to Nadya, who’s sitting on Dimitri’s lap while talking to a snake-looking woman hanging by Mikhail’s side. My heart does something funny. Watching her talk with them stirs something in my chest I don’t like, so I look away from them.Well that didn’t take long.
I don’t want to bother Pyper while she’s busy on the phone since they have a time difference and probably want to catch up. Instead, I make my way over to Grandpa Viktor, breezing past everyone who I wasn’t introduced to yesterday who’s clearly wondering who’s the Black girl up in here. I set my glass flute down, walking straight up to Grandpa who’s in a serious conversation with someone, but I throw my arms out and jump into his lap.
“Grandpa!” I hug him tight and he catches me, chuckling, setting me on his lap where I place my head on his shoulder.
“Connie, my dear. Are you vell now?” he asks, patting my head, and I nod.
“Yup, I feel better,” I answer and rest my head on his shoulder.
“I vas vorried. I am happy to hear zhat.”
“Mmhm,” I hum, snuggling into his shoulder like the spoiled favorite I am.
But I notice the chatter has stopped, and I look up to see that everyone is watching. The silence rippling through the room isdeafening. You could hear a snowflake fall on cotton up in here.
I blink, confused for like half a second, until one man storms across the room and steps forward, nostrils flared.
“Howdareyou recklessly approach ze Pakhan! Vho are you?!” he growls, voice low but tight with something between suspicion and outrage.
Oop.Here the fuck we go! Here the fuck we go!
But before I can even shift off Grandpa Viktor’s lap or apologize or say,“Damn, y’all don’t hug in this family?” the old man lifts his cane, slamming it down like a gavel andstaring.
One look… that’s all it takes, and the homiefolds.
His eyes drop, and his mouth shuts before he stands at attention, military style.Whoa…
“Speak to my guest again,” Grandpa Viktor says smoothly, still patting my head like I’m a child. “And I vill remove your tongue. Vit no anesthesia.”
