LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR (REMASTERED)

MODERN TECHNOLOGY

Slowly, my car rolled up the winding driveway towards the gates of the mansion. Flashing blue lights flickering as far as the eye can see, three of my private security guards are standing directly outside the retractable entrance as the gate idly sat wide open.

What the hell done happened now? I thought to myself. I left Cookie here alone three hours ago and now fear's starting to set in because when I called her a half an hour ago to let her know that me and Laylah were on our way back, she didn't answer her phone.

Now I roll up on this shit...a driveway full of cop cars, ambulances, etc.

I let down the tented window from the back seat of the SUV, "What's going on?" I barked at the guard who opened my door.

"Mr. Lyon, sir we've been trying to reach you, but we haven't been able to make contact." He mumbled. I stepped out of the vehicle, anger bubbling.

"What do you mean y'all ain't been able to reach me, I've had both of my phones" Gawking down at my business cell, I didn't see any calls or texts.

"Sir there was an incident involving Ms. Lyon. She..."

Fumbling through my pockets as my driver Jerome, unstrapped Laylah's car seat and pulled her from the back, I retrieved my personal line that I'd put into silent mode while in the studio earlier and sure enough I've got like twenty damn missed calls, half of which are from Cookie.

I didn't even wait for him to say another word. The fact that she never called my business phone is only making me more anxious, so I need to lay eyes on her and make sure she's all right.

"Jerome bring the baby into the house." I ordered, climbing the stairs two at a time, and sprinting towards the door. There are cops swarming the place and there's police tape sealing off my family room area. One of the uniformed officers near the door put his hands on my chest and tried to stop me from moving closer, but I pushed his lightweight ass out of my way and walked towards the action.

My heart's pounding in my ears and I feel like it's going to leap out of my chest, but then I saw her. Javon standing right by her side, as she sat on the couch and a pasty ass white dude hovered next to her with a note pad in his hand. Palm along her chin, she looks like she's been in a scuffle and as soon as she saw me, she leaped up into my arms.

"LUCIOUS." She whimpered, her arms wrapping around my neck and squeezing me tightly. I held onto her for dear life, my hands caressing the back of her head, as she pulled back from me then looked up into my eyes.

"Baby, what happened?" I belted while taking a glance over examination of her body. "Are you okay?"

Cookie released a long deep breath, her hands now resting against my chest as she began to speak, "She happened." she uttered, pointing off to the side.

"Who...?" I said, looking off in the direction she pointed.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Anika's lifeless body being sealed into a body bag. What the hell is she even doing here...and why is she now lying dead in our house?

Cookie told me the whole story and I immediately went to Javon for answers. What the hell am I paying his ass for if he can't keep her safe when I'm not around. I hate dwelling on Malcolm, because every time I think about his ass all I can see is images of him touching my woman or the sounds of her moaning beneath him the way she does with me. Despite that, I know that this would never have happened if he still worked for Empire.

Javon's good, and he'd been Malcolm's second in command, but this shit is unacceptable. I marched right into his face for answers, Cookie latched onto my arm, and as if he knew what I was going to say he spoke up immediately.