ITALY INCIDENT

chp. 1

~◇◆~ACE FORCE~◇◆~

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"Honey? Are you home?" Alisha called out, stepping out of the laundry room as the elevator doors to their penthouse slid open. She glanced around, not seeing Ace immediately. "Ace?" she called again, not hearing his usual, affectionate "honeybee" in response. A slight worry began to gnaw at her as she walked toward the foyer. The silence felt unusual. She strained her ears, hoping to catch any sound of his presence.

As Alisha stepped into the foyer, she felt a sudden movement behind her. Before she could turn around, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground.

"Boo!" Ace's voice boomed playfully in her ear.

Alisha let out a startled yelp, her heart leaping into her throat. She spun around in his arms, smacking his chest lightly. "Ace! You scared me!"

Ace laughed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Gotcha, honeybee," he said, planting a kiss on her forehead. "Couldn't resist."

Alisha couldn't help but laugh too, shaking her head. "One of these days, you're going to give me a heart attack."

Ace grinned. "Worth it to see that look on your face," he teased, holding her close.

Alisha rolled her eyes, still smiling, and rested her head against his chest. "You’re incorrigible," she murmured, feeling his heartbeat beneath her ear.

Ace chuckled, his hand gently stroking her hair. "But you love me for it."

She pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a mock stern expression. "Maybe," she conceded, her eyes softening. "So, how was your day?"

"Busy, as usual," Ace replied, his tone lightening. "But I’ve got the rest of the evening free. Thought we could do something fun."

Alisha’s eyes lit up. "Oh? Like what?"

Ace pretended to ponder, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "How about a rooftop picnic? I picked up some of your favorite snacks on the way home."

Alisha’s smile widened. "That sounds perfect. Let me grab a blanket."

She turned to head toward the closet, but Ace caught her hand, pulling her back into a quick, spontaneous spin that ended with her in his arms again. "Just had to dance with you for a second," he said with a wink.

Alisha laughed, her earlier worry completely forgotten. "You’re impossible," she said affectionately.

"And you’re irresistible," Ace countered, giving her a quick kiss before letting her go.

As Alisha retrieved the blanket, she felt a warmth spread through her. No matter how unpredictable Ace could be, his playful nature always reminded her how much she loved their life together.

As they spread the blanket out on the rooftop, Ace began unpacking the snacks he had brought. The city lights twinkled below them, and a gentle breeze rustled through the air, adding to the serene ambiance.

Alisha sat down, watching Ace with a content smile. "This is perfect," she said, reaching for a piece of cheese.

Ace grinned, a hint of mischief still dancing in his eyes. "Well, there's actually a reason I wanted to celebrate tonight."

Alisha paused, looking at him curiously. "Oh? What's the occasion?"

Ace's grin widened. "I got a new acting role!"

Alisha's face lit up with joy. "Ace, that's incredible! Tell me everything!"

Ace held her hands, pulling her close. "It's a lead role in a new series. It's a huge opportunity, and the character is amazing. I can’t wait to dive into it."