LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR (REMASTERED)

SILENT NIGHT

A stiff shot of brandy wafted down my throat, the soothing glow from the fireplace easing through the room, my eyes scanned my family as they all genuinely appeared happy. Crossing my legs, I extended my arm along the back of the couch and suspired.

I can't remember the last time I was this happy for this long. Since Cookie and I remarried I feel like I'm constantly walking on cloud nine, my MG hasn't even been able to get me down, and I've had fewer and fewer flair ups. The Temptations Christmas playing through the speakers, I grinned while Laylah rode along Hakeem's back, him trotting across the floor like a horse while Tiana holds her steady, so she won't fall.

To my right, Mal's cheesing while gazing down at his phone, Lola knocked out in his lap, her head planted against his chest. To my left, Michelle's snuggled under Dre as he turns the page of the paper, they appear to be scanning together, then pecked her cheek.

Dare I say it. I think we're actually finally all happy and content around each other, we've found our groove.

A sashaying curvy silhouette entered my vision and my attention immediately diverted as my wife strutted into my space, the mysterious packaged from earlier in her left hand, a fresh glass of champagne in the other.

"Open it up, I wanna know what's inside." She muttered, while handing the box out towards me.

I took the package from her hand, "Okay." I replied, shifting within my seat, and sitting my glass along the end table next to us.

Cooks took a swing of her drink as I shook it, then opened it up while she stood over me in anticipation. I tossed it upside down and a single, lonely flash drive of some sort fell into my lap.

Lifting the medium white slip attached, my brows furrowed at the words.... plug me in and play me.

Okay, now this is weird plus there isn't anything else inside of the package.

My mind began to wonder as I stood from my seat and handed the USB to Cookie for her inspection, then reclaimed my drink and took a sip.

"Plug me in and play me." She uttered, just as confused as I at this moment.

Oblivious to our actions, all our kids lost within their own worlds, we headed into my office to follow the instructions attached to the drive. Plugging it into my open laptop, I eased down into the captain's seat, Cookie slid onto my lap, and I pressed play as a video popped up along the screen.

As soon as it began to roll, I immediately recognized the setting of the footage.... that's my damn office, I thought while we continued to watch.

Two male voices then echoed through the screen, one is clearly Jamal's but the other sounds a lot like Ryan Morgan's, his former boyfriend, yet I can't really be sure because his face is blurred out on the video. My wife's eyes squinted as she examined the footage.

"Isn't that the videographer you hired to film everything surrounding the Legacy Concert a while back?" She probed.

"Yeah, I think that's him. You know what...I'm pretty sure it is." I countered, leaning forward just a bit, both of us trying to gain a clear understanding of what we're watching.

The video continued to roll and suddenly it took a drastic change in direction. My wife gasped as my chest filled with fire.

What the hell is this shit? This is a damn sex tape! A sex tape filmed in my office on top of my desk with my face showing in all the pictures in the background at that!

"Oh My God!" Cookie gasped, hopping up from my lap with the quickness, as steam began to radiate off me.

Fury dancing within my eyes, my love moved just in the nick of time cuz I damn near tossed her from my lap as I darted to my feet on a mission. Taking my half full glass of brandy straight to the head, I burst through my office doors, and began to make my way back into the family room in search of Jamal's ass.