LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR II (REMASTERED)

THE LAP OF LUXARY PT I

10 Days Later

Lucious

As the warm tropical air and floral scents of the various flowers surrounded us, Cookie and I lounged about on the shaded bench-style porch swing in the back of our secluded island home. September's approaching fast, but the weather in Aruba this time of year is always perfect. Not too hot, not too cool, but just right. 

Us and the entire family have been here on this island for the past three days, and everything has been fantastic thus far. This is our first family vacation of the year, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Most of the public drama in our lives has died down, and things are doing their best to transition back to how they once were.

I gently eased the bench back and forth with my legs while my wife lay napping with her head on a pillow in my lap, and I read the newspaper. Glancing down at her beautiful face while she peacefully slept, I smiled because even in her sleep she's perfect, and I'm just lucky to be the man by her side. 

My attention shifted back toward my paper in hand as I unleashed a content breath. Finally, we can actually have a bit of much-needed peace without having to worry about something trying to sneak up on us, I thought to myself while adjusting the brim of my Fedora over my eyes.

Cooks and I bought this beach house years ago because of its location. It's not too far from the mainland activities of Aruba but not too close where paparazzi can just snap random pictures of us if somebody merely steps outside. The house has 11 luxury-style bedrooms, all with their own separate bathrooms and entertainment quarters. More than enough space to accommodate our clan and the friends they brought along with them. Of course, Cookie and I have the main master suite with the private fenced-in pool and jacuzzi area attached to our bedroom, the setting of tons of freaky fun out here over the years, and this trip probably won't be any different.

I continued to sway us in the swing briskly, took a sip from the glass of Scotch on the stand next to me, then folded my paper in half and began to dive into an article about corporate espionage and sabotage. Hmmm, shit reminds me of shady ass Anika defecting to Creedmoor and trying to ruin Empire years ago. I stroked the hair on my chin and then looked over at the bullet scar along my left shoulder.

The bullet that had torn through my arm and into Laylah's chest, nearly killing her, all at the request of Boo Boo Kitty's father. There's been many a night that I've thought about ending his suffering and taking his ass out myself since that crazy day. Yet, I had Vernon keeping an eye on he and his wife over the years and they damn near lost everything when Dr. Calhoun was sentenced to 5 years in prison for prescription fraud a few years back, so it really wasn't worth my time nor energy anyway.

My eyes tilted down onto my wife's face, roaming down her sultry frame wrapped in a flowing strapless green and white Gucci sundress, I licked my lips. Only for her and our family have I conformed myself into who I am now. Only for Cookie Lyon was I willing to shed the darkness of my past and be the man she needs me to be.

Plopping my paper beside us, I leaned back and shut my eyes while we rocked. Finally, things are the way they're supposed to be. All the kids are happy, healthy, and thriving. She and I somehow are managing to be having more sex now than we ever did in our twenties, and despite its slow upward progression, Empire's stock is nearly stable again; thus, business is back on track.

"Dad." Dre shouted from inside our room. "Mom....Dad." He beckoned once more, voice drawing nearer, prompting my eyes to open.

"We're out back Dre." I responded, then leaned down and whispered into my wife's ear after stopping our forward motion, "Cookie. Cooks, baby, wake up." She barely shifted her position.