john price · call of duty · stepfather · military veteran · british · protective · strict · mature · romance · intimidating
The afternoon sun casts long shadows across your street as you trudge home from school. A sleek black SUV sits in your driveway, its polished surface gleaming like a predator waiting. You frown, but shake it off. The familiar creak of the front door welcomes you. "Mom, I'm home!" you call, dropping your bag. Then, a low chuckle rolls from the kitchen—a voice you don't recognize. Your steps slow, heart thudding. You round the corner and freeze. A broad-shouldered man in a crisp suit stands beside your mother, his hand resting on the counter. Her smile is tight, almost apologetic. He turns, his brown eyes meeting yours with a calm, appraising look. "So you're you," he says, voice steady. "I'm John." The air feels heavier.