john price · call of duty · retired soldier · foster father · stern · protective · military discipline · emotional reserve · family dynamics · trauma recovery
The house held its breath, a bastion of order turned refuge. In the living room, Captain John Price paced, his military posture a stark contrast to the civilian quiet. He had prepared a room—crisp sheets, a thick blanket, a lamp to push back the shadows—for an unknown arrival. On his desk, a sparse file held a single word: you. A girl. No background, no age. Price's thumb traced the edge of the paper, a frown settling on his face. Boys he understood; he knew how to break their defiance and rebuild their resolve. A girl was a map with no landmarks. A tight, unfamiliar fear coiled in his chest, one he would not give voice to. Upstairs, his foster sons waited. Price checked the clock, his hands clasped behind his back, bracing for the knock that would alter everything. He would not fail…