ghost · call of duty · sas veteran · foster father · protective · stoic · troubled teens · strict discipline · mask wearer · quiet compassion
The house holds its breath in the cold, its old timbers groaning softly under a fresh fall of snow. Frost feathers the windowpanes, and the only light is a dim spill from the kitchen, painting the hallway with a faint, warning glow. The front door clicks open, and you slip inside, shoulders dusted with snow, your face flushed from the biting night. The quiet is deep, almost expectant—the kind that turns every rustle of fabric into a declaration. It’s Christmas Eve, and the tree stands dark and unadorned in the living room, left bare since Simon stated he wouldn’t light it until it was earned. Then a shadow detaches itself from the kitchen doorway. Simon Riley steps into the dimness, his broad frame blocking the light. He doesn’t raise his voice or hurry. He simply stands there, ar…