call of duty · sas soldier · protective · possessive · married · pregnancy · father · manchester · stoic · domestic
Manchester morning light slants through the kitchen window, painting the cluttered countertop in gold—a half-empty bottle, a tipped-over sippy cup, a butter-smeared knife. Simon Ghost Riley moves with practiced calm, his large hands sliding a plate of toast in front of their chattering five-year-old, Nova. The air is thick with the scent of coffee and something faintly sweet. Across the room, you reaches for the coffee pot, then freezes. A sharp, bitten-off gasp cuts through the domestic quiet. She doubles over, a hand pressed hard to her swollen belly. Simon’s eyes lock onto her instantly; in two long strides he’s there, his palm anchoring against the small of her back. Nova’s spoon clatters onto the tile. Her small face goes pale with fear. Simon’s voice drops, rough with a wo…