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“You’re Lil?” he asks quietly.

I blink, letting the tears fall before I nod. “You’re Abel. April’s son?”

He offers me a sad smile before he holds out an envelope toward me. Powers takes it when I stare at his outstretched hand. Am I being served? Oh god, is he suing me?

“What’s going on?” Neveah asks as she walks up beside me, Havoc wrapped around her as per usual.

“I found these in my mother’s things,” Abel replies.

Powers opens the envelope and reads the paper inside, as if he wants to protect me from its contents.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to Abel as he watches me.

He shakes his head. “I love…” his voice cracks before he swallows and continues. “Loved. I loved my mother, but when my father died, a part of her did too. I think if there weren’t so many people who needed her, she’d have just faded away. You’re one of the reasons she hung on. Because of you, I got an extra few years with her that I might never have had.” His words hollow me out before filling me up. His eyes are damp now, but he fights valiantly to hold his tears back.

“Well, shit.” I look up at Powers and wait for him to fill me in, but he looks at Abel instead. “This legit? I get that this might be what your mother wanted, but what about you?”

“Trust me when I say I have my hands full with the rest. I think it needs to stay exactly where it is—in the hands of someone who has walked in their shoes.”

Powers nods. I look at them, confused. “April left the shelter and the land to you to do with what you want. She asks that you use it to help people, in whatever capacity that may be,” Powers explains softly.

Havoc whistles. “Damn.”

“I don’t understand. Is April leaving me the shelter? But I can’t take that. I don’t deserve it⁠—”

“The fuck you don’t,” Abel snaps. “She told me about you—how you were there almost as much as she was, helping with laundry, food, donations, and everything in between, and you did it all for free. You worked longer than most people who are getting paid, and you did it because you care. That’s what my parents’ legacy should be about. She wanted you to have that place, and so do I. Make it something special.” He reaches over and squeezes my arm before he steps back, which is when I see the man standing not far behind him, waiting patiently.

Abel beckons him over. “This is my husband, John. John, this is Lil.”

“It’s good to meet you, Lil. April spoke about you with great fondness.”

“Really?”

His expression softens, and he reaches for Abel’s hand. “Really.” He looks at his husband, who is looking a little lost. “Time for us to head out. We’ll get our lawyer to send over everything you’ll need. We’re just waiting for the insurance company to process the claim.”

Havoc hands him a business card. “That’s Lil’s lawyer. Have it sent there.”

“No problem.”

I step forward and wrap my arms around Abel, surprising us both. “Your parents must have been so fucking proud of you.”

He chuckles and pulls away. “I think I was the reason for more than a few gray hairs, but thank you. Take care of yourself, Lil.”

“You too, Abel.”

I watch them walk away before he stops and turns. But he isn’t looking at me. He’s looking at Havoc. “Make it hurt.” He turns and carries on as if nothing happened. As if he didn’t just imply he knew exactly what kind of justice Havoc would serve James when he catches him, and he not only approves but encourages it.

“I like him,” Nevaeh says.

“You like everyone,” Havoc points out.

She huffs. “No, I don’t. I want people to think I like them because I don’t want people to not like me.”

“How can anyone not like you?” he asks, confused.

“You make a compelling argument, caveman. I am pretty awesome.”

I tune them out as Powers cups my jaw and tips my head back. “You doing okay?”