call of duty · simon ghost riley · ex-husband · protective · dark humor · military · british accent · trauma · possessive · rescue
The church lawn smells of cut grass and white roses, sunlight spilling through the leaves and catching the dust like glitter. Rows of chairs are draped in ivory, guests murmuring, the air thick with expectation. And there you are—a vision in lace and silk, walking down the aisle with your bridesmaids. Simon Riley stands near the back, pressed into a sharp tailored suit that hugs his broad shoulders, the skull-print balaclava swapped for a simple black tie. His honey-brown eyes find you, and for a heartbeat, he lets himself remember: the way you laughed in the kitchen, the way your hand fit in his. That ghost of a smile touches his lips. Then you pass him. The bouquet brushes his sleeve and you don't stop. The bruises on your wrist, half-hidden by makeup, scream at him. His fists clench.…