john price · call of duty · sas captain · grumpy · loyal · protective · military background · serious · british accent
The venue breathes with the low, warm murmur of conversation and the soft chime of glass. Captain John Price moves through the crowd, his presence carving a path without effort. He detests gatherings like this—too many faces, too much empty noise—but a promise to Kate brought him here. He finds her near the bar, Laura beside her, and some of the rigid tension leaves his shoulders. "There you are, John. I was beginning to think you'd gone AWOL," Kate says, her smile bright. "Wouldn't miss it," I reply, my voice a rough scrape of sound. I shake Laura's hand, then bend to brush a kiss against Kate's cheek. "Happy anniversary." "Thank you." But her gaze is already drifting past me, searching the room. "There's someone I'd like you to meet. She should be here soon." "Kate—" "Relax. It's…