Temporary Suffering

Chapter One

When I woke up the sun was shining brightly into our room. The giant, warm body next to me shifted. I looked up and smiled, still clueless as to how how I got so lucky with this man. My husband was the most amazing man I had ever met in my life. My husband! That alone was a novelty.

We had finally gotten married a month ago. The ceremony had been amazing.

I still teared up when I remembered walked up the isle, seeing my man in his suit. Knowing that I was going to spend the rest of my life with this man. Simon, his partner and best man, patting him on the shoulder.

"Morning," Carson said in his deep voice, pulling me closer. "Morning," I whispered.

A piercing cry tore through our apartment. "I got it," Carson said heading towards Grayson's room. As soon as I heard Gray go silent I knew Carson had picked him up. Dammit.

I quickly stood and pulled my robe on. "Carson. We're supposed to be weening him away from that," I chastised.

I would never tell Carson this but I was glad he'd picked him up because seeing our son in Carson's arms warmed me from the inside out. "We're also weening him on his bottle and pacifier. I needed to hold my boy," Carson replied, playing I got your nose with Gray. "Mommy's so mean sometimes right? She just doesn't understand," he said to him.

I smiled and headed to the kitchen for some coffee. My boy's.

I pressed the blinking button on our home phone and listened to the messages. "Hey Carson. I know your married but shit, I haven't heard from you in a while. Wanted to tell you about this awesome three way I had-" I deleted the message quickly, smiling at Simon's dry humor. "Stop Sam, I'm trying to leave a message woman. But you keep doing that shit with your hand and I'll hang up right now. Yeah that's what I thought. Hey, I wanted y'all to know Sam and I are engaged, so yeah bye." That was obviously Gavin.

I poured some coffee into each our mugs, pouring lots of creamer into mine. Carson, as he insisted, was a man and "real" men didn't drink sweet coffee.

I think he just didn't like creamer. "Hello, I'm calling for Mrs Andrews. This is the Marvin and Marvin law firm in Minnesota calling about a settlement your brother, Derek Hudson, left before he passed on. My number is....." The voice faded out as blood rushed through my brain like a hurricane. The coffee mug in my hand slipped to the floor with a loud crash.

"Amy!" Hands wrapped around me and a child sobbed loudly in the background. "Amy, baby what's wrong. Come on sweetheart, talk to me," Carson pleaded unable to keep the panic out his voice. "There was....there was...a message about Derek. Someone left a message a message about Derek," I cried clutching his shirt tightly in his hands.

"It's okay baby. It's okay. Derek isn't here anymore, he can't hurt us. I promise," Carson said clutching me tightly to his chest.

I nodded slowly. "Gray. Where's Gray? Grayson, come here baby." I ran into the living room were he sat on the couch, his face twisted in terror, red because of his loud screaming. I reached for him, holding him tightly in my arms. "Hey," Carson said gently setting his hands on my shoulders. "Everyone is okay Amy. No one's gonna get you or Gray baby."

I nodded finally calming down.

"I'm gonna go call Simon that I'm not coming in today okay. I'll be right back." I shook my head,"no I'm fine. Go to work Carson."

"Amy you-"

"No Carson. Go to work. I'm fine I promise."

"Say by to daddy Gray," I said as Carson stood in the doorway. "Bye-bye," he whispered reaching for his father.

Carson kissed his cheek and then kissed me deeply. "I love you."

"I love you to baby," I said shutting the door behind him. "Now," I said to Gray, "what are we to do?"

"Bye-bye."

I laughed. "How bout some food."
I warmed up his peaches and made myself some pancakes. An hour or so later we were watching some show about weird fluffy things with tv's in their stomach when the door slammed open.

Fear spiked through me and I grabbed Gray before running to my room. I pulled him under the bed and dialed 911.

"911 what's your emergency?"

"Someone's in my house. My husband works for the FBI, please get him."

"Are you alone in the house ma'am?" The operator asked. "No it's just me and my son, please help," I whispered. The door to my bedroom opened and I slammed a hand over Grayson's mouth.

"Ma'am? What's your address? Ma'am?" I could see heavy boots and squeezed my eyes shut and a tear slid out.

Please don't hurt my baby, please. I silently begged. "Ma'am?"

A face appeared at the end of my bed and I screamed. He grabbed me by the hair and dragged me out. Gray screamed. "You call the cops bitch?"

I shook my head and everything went dark.

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This is the third book in the Temporary series. I suggest reading the first one to understand what's going on but you don't have to read the second one.