'Empire' season 2 episode 7 preview: showrunner says don't be quick to invest in Cookie's new love life

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Hakeem Lyon's kidnapping was a much talked about topic in the world of "Empire" fanatics and production, with Brooklyn Nine Nine's Stephanie Beatriz posting a photo on Instagram with her co-stars and a Missing sign with Hakeem's photo on it.

In this week's week's episode, viewers got to see Hakeem (Bryshere Gray) return home, but not before facing his kidnappers, who all sported a mysterious matching tattoos on their upper backs. Hakeem also got to rekindle his romance with Anika, played by Grace Gealey, which showrunner Ilene Chaiken confirms was definitely "more than a kiss."

Hakeem wasn't the only one feeling the love this week, as Taraji P. Henson's Cookie's relationship with Magic Mike's Adam Rodriguez is seemingly going on the fast lane. However, Chaiken tells Variety that fans should not get too excited, with Laz revealing his tattoo to viewers at the end of the episode, the same tattoo that matched that of Hakeem's kidnappers.

"This is not a coincidence. I can tell you that he and Big Heavy (one of Hakeem’s kidnappers) have been working together — effectively they’re partners," Chaiken explained. "That doesn’t mean that Laz isn’t going to turn out to have real feelings for Cookie, but they came at this with a very specific plan to extort and this is the way they run."

At the same time, Empire fans should be worried for Cookie, because according to Chaiken, she is "falling for a guy and she doesn’t know who he is, and he’s not the great guy he appears to be — or at least he has some affiliations that are unsavory." In fact, Laz may have had a hand in the kidnapping scheme all along.

Rodriguez spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his character's growing relationship with Cookie, saying, "Laz is somebody who is willing to protect Cookie."

"[Cookie] is a protector and I think that sometimes the people that play that role in life, when they find someone that makes them feel safe, as safe as they want to make other people feel, they're instantly drawn to that," he explained. "And I think Cookie sees that in Laz."

Cookie and Laz seem like the perfect pair, but the former's ties to the kidnappers will definitely stand in the way of the blossoming relationship, if and when Cookie finds out. Rodriguez even goes on record to say that Cookie and Laz's chemistry was "palpable."

Chaiken also admits that Laz may have been caught off guard with his feelings towards Cookie, saying, "He just didn’t expect to feel for her the way that he did, and yet, he’s still got to do his job because it’s his job."

Fans will have to see what becomes of these new lovers as Empire airs on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX.