LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR II (REMASTERED)

THE LYONS ROAR LOUDLY PT III

Lucious

Only the dim glow from the last traces of moonlight within the sky illuminates the room around me. My body eased down onto the side of Colin's bed as his body slightly shifted from my weight, but he didn't stir from his sleep. I gently ran my hand through the thick curls of his hair then across the side of his head. Glancing over towards his sleeping brother in the bed next to him, a long heavy sigh escaped my chest as my hand came to rest along the middle of Colin's back.

I licked my lips while my eyes floated out towards their bay window, into the massive yard surrounding this property and nothing but the light humming of the central air blaring all throughout the house can be heard around us. I miss my family man.  Seeing them half the week is killing me but it's better than nothing at all I guess.  

I'm beyond proud of them regarding their accomplishments tonight, they're coming into their own as members of this crazy ass family, yet despite how well they both did at the party unease and regret are all that fill my mind, body, and soul at this very moment.

Leaning down, I kissed the side of Colin's head, made my way over to Caleb then did the same to his knocked out lil curled up frame as well. I stared down at him, and instantly that voice inside of my head began to loudly blare my inner most thoughts on repeat throughout my skull.

"You messed this up Lucious. You screwed up this family...your family...and she's not gonna give you another chance to fix it. Hell, why should she...you've had so many already."

My conscious echoed as my body lifted from the queen size mattress and I slowly sauntered over towards the wall then posted up.

My fingers trailed across my forehead towards the side of my face and I winced a little as a bit of blood stained my fingers from the gash left behind after the final bullet of Big Heavy's life grazed my face earlier. I pulled my handkerchief from my jacket pocket to wipe my hands and continued to replay all the crazy events that unfolded only mere hours ago.

Inching from the wall, my hands slid into my pockets, and I headed towards the boy's door then quietly shut it. Glancing down at my Audemars Piguet, it reads 3:45 a.m., as I began my journey down the lowly lit halls of my wife's place towards our daughter's room so I can look in on her before I leave them. 

It didn't take me long to get there and after a quick peek in at her sprawled-out body atop of her bed, I eased her room door shut then began to make my way towards the stairs.

A lump began to swell inside my throat as I neared the top of the stairs adjacent to Cookie's room. My feet stopped, my eyes glancing at the rich light brown fibers of her room door as my hand rested on the railing of the stairs.

I wonder if she's still awake, I pondered as my hand stroked the hairs along my chin while I stand in deep contemplation. I don't wanna leave any of them to be quite honest, but especially not her and especially not tonight. 

A weighted sigh floated from my chest as I stand rooted in place, trying to decide my next move.

Swallowing hard, I glided towards her closed room door and gently knocked but after a few minutes of silence there was still no reply. I knocked once more and after still not getting a reply my hand wrapped around her sparkling brass doorknob, and I eased the thick structure open. 

Eyes squinted, they readjusted to the darkness as I gazed inside to find empty space and a still made-up bed. Her gown and heels thrown across the bench at the foot of the bed, are the only traces that she's even been in here tonight. I slid the door close at the revelation of her absence.

As my body shifted back towards the stairs, I can't help but think bout how she musta felt seeing me laid out tonight. I keep wondering if she felt the same way I felt when I saw Laz bending her over that damn table, wondering if her heart felt as if it was gonna explode the way mines did.