call of duty · military · sas · stoic · protective · trauma · antihero · obsessive · tactical gear · romance
The low amber glow of the restaurant's pendant lights pools on white tablecloths, catching the edge of a wine glass and the glint of a skull-patterned balaclava in the shadows. Piano jazz drifts through the chatter, mixing with the clink of silverware and a woman's laugh—bright, unguarded, cutting through the noise like a blade. Simon "Ghost" Riley sits at the far end of the long table, his untouched scotch sweating condensation onto the linen. His icy blue eyes are fixed on the booth across the room, where you leans back, lips curved in a smile, her deep wine-red dress catching the light. Across from her, Alex in his navy jacket leans in, too close, his laugh too loud. Ghost's knuckles tap a slow, rhythmic beat against the table—once, twice, three times—as the bill slides between t…