LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR (REMASTERED)

THE LYONESS

As I lounged around the indoor Jacuzzi of Lucious' mansion, I felt the anger in the pit of my stomach rising once again.

"Ghetto Rat", that son of a bitch called me a fucking Ghetto Rat....how dare you Lucious, I thought to myself with a glass of champagne in hand. Regardless of what had gone on between us I loved his stupid ass and I'd never snitch on him.

Despite his ways he's the father of my children and they need him.

When the feds tried to corner me days before the concert, turning on him never even crossed my mind, cuz if that were the case I woulda turned on him years ago to save myself after his abandonment. Yeah, I want him to pay for killing Bunky, but I'll find a way to handle his ass myself, I'd never let the feds get their hands on him with my help though.

Fuck Lucious. He'll get his, especially after turning my baby Jamal against me.

He knows that Jamal is my everything and he deliberately showed him that tape of me bout to smother his grimy ass to take him from me, like he hasn't already taken so much from me already.

I checked my watch and realized that the time had flown by while I sat idly within my thoughts.

"Damn. Imma be late." I muttered.

I have a doctor's appointment in an hour. Dr. Turner's office called me yesterday and said that I needed to come in so she can discuss something found in my test results from my checkup last week, so my nerves are a bit on edge to say the least.

Hopping out of the Jacuzzi, I wrapped a towel around my waist and headed for the shower to get ready. Thirty minutes later, I was ready, dressed and headed out the door towards my waiting car.

An hour and a half later, I adjusted the frames of my Gucci shades while slowly easing through the revolving doors and back out into the valet area of the swarming Mt. Paron medical building.

Quickly sliding into the black Lincoln awaiting me, I sighed, my head in a daze due to the news my doctor informed me of. I've survived 17 years behind bars in deprived conditions and remained healthy as a horse, but now I've gotta deal with this.

Jesus Christ! If it ain't one thing it's always another I swear. As my driver pulled off towards the house I can barely think straight, the lush green cluster of trees surrounding me, passing in a haze.

I massaged my temples, while coasting along drowning in my own thoughts. Suddenly my cell rang. Malcolm's name flashing across the screen after I fished it free from my purse.

"Hey handsome, long time no hear. How are you?" I murmured.

"I'm good. To be honest I've missed you, Cookie. I'll be coming back into the country next week and I'd like to come up to the city and see you, if that's alright." He exclaimed.

Licking my lips, I sighed. I enjoyed Malcolm's company during our time together, we haven't had a chance to see one another since he resigned from Empire after Lucious fired me. Plus, he has been out of the country for his new job since his departure and maybe linking up with the only other man I've been with besides my ex-husband will help take my mind off things.

He's a good man, completely different from Lucious' punk ass, and he treated me like a Queen, but I have to admit that although I did like him, he didn't set my entire body ablaze the way that Lucious does with a simple look.

"I'd love to see you Malcolm, uhm we should talk anyway. I'm not really in a place where I can talk right now, so when you get in give me a call and we can meet up." I professed.

He quickly agreed and our call ended. Clearing my throat and I folded my hands into my lap as the car navigated the mansions winding driveway.

Yeah, we definitely have to talk.

A few days later I walked into Lucious'/ Jamal's office at Empire because he asked to speak with me via Porsha earlier this morning. When I entered, he was on the phone, so I took one of the seats in front of his desk and waited for him to get finished.

Following a few minutes the call ended, he stared at me for a second before breaking the silence. Our relationship has been strained over these past three months because of his father but no matter what happens I'll always have he and his brother's backs.

He's been doing such a good job in his father's absence, and I'm so proud of him. I'd made it my goal for him to be a superstar once I got out and he's turned into one in several ways. All I've ever wanted was for Lucious to accept Jamal for who he is and see that he's the perfect mixture of the two of us.

"What's up Mal?" I asked.

"Ma, what's up with Michelle, how's her album coming?" He countered.

"It's nearly finished baby. She has one more song she wants to add then we'll be going to mix next week. Once the final album is done, I'll bring it by for your approval. Is that it?" I inquired.

My middle child swallowed, his gaze softened towards me for the first time in months, as he inched upright in his father's chair.

Damn, he's so much like Lucious that it scares me sometimes, why it took so many years for his father to see what I always saw in him still evades me. His sexuality never negated his talent, even while in prison I would hear songs from his first album and wonder why Lucious wasn't promoting them the way they deserved to be pushed.

Nevertheless, that was then, and this is now.

"No that's not all." He uttered then took a deep breath after a quick glance downward and back up towards me. Vibrant rays of sun lightening his almond orbs, the goatee framing his chin accenting his handsome face. If we ain't do but one thing right together, that devil and I made some good-looking babies.

"Ma, I wanted to apologize to you for not believing you about snitching on dad. I spoke with him the other day and he basically told me that he's getting out soon." He confessed; fingers intertwined atop the desk.

"What! Your father is getting out soon?" I blurted, my facial expression obviously displaying my complete surprise at this revelation.

"Yeah, they don't have enough evidence to pursue a case against him. So, there's no way you could have been working with the feds. I shoulda believed you cuz I know you betta than that and I'm, I'm Sorry." He muttered, lips pouting like they did when he used to get in trouble as a little boy.

Scoffing, I tossed a dismissive hand towards him.

"There's no need to apologize Mal you know I'll always love you. I know you were trying to stay loyal to your father after you finally won his affection. So it's okay, I get it." I replied as he leaned forward, took my hands into his, then huffed before jumping back into the conversation.

"No. Ma, I owe all of this to you. Shoot, I'd probably still be hiding in the closet, whimpering under dad's gaze if you hadn't of pushed me, so yes, an apology is the least that I can do." He admitted, a small grin forming along his face in response to my own.

I cupped his cheek, "Baby, all I've ever wanted was for your father and the world to see how special I've always known you are. I love you, even when you act like ya stupid ass daddy at times." I joked, a chuckled shared between us at the words.

We continued to chat for a couple more minutes before Mal's assistant summoned him for a meeting with the fashion department, prompting us to part ways.

As I left his office, I breathed a sigh of relief about that situation finally coming to a resolution. Now my attention can focus on Lucious. He's getting out and God knows what kind of war path his slimy ass is gonna be on.

I've gotta warn Dre and Keem, but most importantly I need to discuss some things with his ass before he's unleashed. No matter how much I've dreaded having to see him I know that there are certain things that just can't be avoided.

There's something he needs to know, and it needs to come from my mouth, no one else's.