: Part 1
I awoke to the gentle warmth of the Denver sunlight filtering through my closed eyelids. Snug in the comfort of my bed, I reached out my hand, gliding it softly across the smooth sheets. However, as my senses fully came alive, I realized that Ace was no longer lying beside me. Feeling a tinge of loneliness, I withdrew my hand, nestling it under my cheek, and instinctively curled my legs up to my belly before slowly opening my eyes.
As I gathered my thoughts, I became aware of faint voices drifting up from downstairs, emanating from the kitchen. Given that my bedroom was situated directly above the kitchen, the hushed murmurs wafted up to me, indicating the presence of people in the house. It was probably Lily and her familiar crew, the commandos she had assembled.
I imagined
