Suzi pushed open the glass doors of Eternal Springs Funeral Home, her boots crunching against the slush of freshly fallen snow. The understated Christmas decorations—simple garlands and muted lights—gave the space a warm, respectful air. Enough to acknowledge the season without detracting from the quiet mourning that filled its halls.

“Good Morning, Suzi.” Gracie Lynn greeted her with a cinnamon-scented cup of coffee, the warmth radiating through the Styrofoam like a small blessing.

“Thanks, Lynn,” Suzi said, her smile softer than her usual. It had only been a few days, but she’d missed this place, these people. She would especially miss Lynn when the young woman left for medical school. Suzi wrapped her hands around the cup and let the aroma calm her nerves.

“Dad’s in the meeting room with the lawyer. The family isn’t here yet.”

Nodding, Suzi inhaled deeply and prepared herself. She wasn’t just stepping back into a familiar space—she was stepping into John McGillicuddy’s legacy, a tangled mess she’d promised to untangle.

The meeting room was quiet, save for the low shuffle of papers. Nick sat slumped at the head of the table, his pale, gaunt features illuminated by the overhead light. He looked exhausted. The cancer had aged him years beyond his age, but it was the stress of running this business that seemed to drain the last reserves of life from him.

“Good morning, Nick,” Suzi greeted gently, testing the waters.

Nick grumbled something unintelligible in response, barely looking up.

“Nice to see you again, Ernie,” Suzi said, handing the lawyer an envelope. “Merry Christmas.”

The bespectacled man smiled warmly, slipping the envelope into his briefcase while retrieving a stack of papers. “Merry Christmas to you as well. Here’s your copy of the trust details. Please review them for accuracy.”

Suzi scanned the documents quickly, her brow furrowing in concentration. The weight of John’s legacy pressed against her. She owed it to him to get this right.

The silence broke as John’s eldest daughter, Kathy, strode into the room, trailed by one of her brothers. Kathy’s presence was as sharp as the small scar that bisected her eyebrow. They were soon followed by another brother escorting their frail, elderly mother.

The air grew heavier. They sat across from Suzi, their expressions dripping with skepticism.

“Can we get started now?” Kathy snapped, her tone sharp enough to draw blood.

Ernie opened his mouth, but Suzi cut him off. “We need to wait for your other siblings,” she said with a forced smile. “Please.”

“Two of them live in Colorado. I don’t even know where the other one lives,” Kathy retorted, crossing her arms like a petulant child.

“I know,” Suzi replied evenly, checking her phone. “Ernie located them for me. I flew them in for this meeting. Their Uber is almost here.”

Kathy scoffed, her voice dripping with venom. “We drove two hours to get here. Nobody offered us an Uber.”

“Kathy, shut the hell up,” one of her brothers—Ed, if Suzi remembered correctly—snapped. He stood abruptly, shaking his head as he stormed out of the room.

Kathy glared at his retreating figure, her jaw tightening, but she stayed silent.

Minutes later, the final siblings arrived—a pair of men in their late forties who bore striking resemblances to John, along with a younger woman. Ed returned as well, carrying a fresh cup of coffee and seating himself far from Kathy.

Stan, the brother who had stayed seated, gave his siblings a small smile and wave. Kathy, not one to waste time, plastered a sharp smile on her face. “Now, can we get on with this little family reunion?”

Suzi stood, her stomach tightening as all eyes turned to her.

“Good morning, everyone. My name is Suzanne Bachman. I was a friend of your father’s before he passed. As you know, he named me executor of his estate.” Her voice steadied as she continued. “I know John wasn’t the easiest man to understand, and I think he struggled to express kindness in ways that were obvious. But please know, he loved all of you. He spoke of you often.”

The siblings exchanged uneasy glances. No one spoke.

“After reading John’s letter and reflecting on his life, I believe he wanted to leave behind something meaningful. A legacy. With that in mind, I’ve set up a trust in his name, designed to benefit all of you—and your children—for generations to come.”

“I don’t have any children,” Kathy interjected, her tone dismissive.

“Thank God for that,” Judy muttered from the depths of Guillermo, her sharp wit cutting through the tension in Suzi’s head.

Suzi pressed on, ignoring Judy’s comment. “Even if you don’t, Kathy, your nieces and nephews—and their children—will benefit. It’s a way for John’s legacy to touch lives he never had the chance to meet.”

Kathy rolled her eyes. “How much can we expect?” she demanded, her gaze flicking to Ernie. “What do we owe him? And what’s the tax situation?”

“His fees are covered,” Suzi said firmly, stepping in before Ernie could speak. “And most states don’t tax inheritances. “I’ve also included a lump-sum clause if you’d like to entertain a single, larger pay-out instead of annual payments. Your children can also opt for the lump sum, and future generations will receive one million dollars on their 21st birthday, and every April 29th after that, or can also opt for a single, twenty-one-million-dollar payout.”

“Dad’s birthday,” someone mumbled.

“So, what? We get a measly million?” Kathy objected.

Suzi clenched her fists, fighting the urge to beat this woman silent.

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“You all will receive a million dollars for each year of age over your 21st as of next week on January 1st, unless you opt for the lump sum payout, which is double that amount. For those who do not opt for the lump sum, you will continue to receive a million dollars annually beginning April 29th.”

The group mumbled excitedly as the math began to get passed around.

“How long will it last?” one of the brothers from Colorado asked.

“The payments will last for your lifetime or until the estate is depleted,” Suzi explained. “But the bulk of the estate is invested. If it’s managed well, it should last for your children’s children.”

Kathy, unsatisfied, pressed on. “What about his military honors? Do we get those?”

Suzi’s patience frayed. “Unfortunately, no,” Suzi said, her voice steady despite the tension thickening the room. “Four medals, six children. Three of you served, three of you didn’t. There was no fair way to divide them. I donated the medals to the Chicago Vietnam War Memorial in John’s name.” She held the weight of the family’s stares, some curious, some bitter, before continuing. “However, I’ve set up four $40,000 scholarships for your family to distribute as you see fit. These scholarships will renew annually.”

The room buzzed with disbelief. Most of John’s children looked stunned, their eyes wide as they processed the unexpected gesture. Kathy, predictably, was unimpressed.

“The will mentioned properties and belongings,” she said, her tone sharp. “What about those?”

Suzi folded her hands on the table, keeping her tone even. “I’m still evaluating the property in Colorado. As for the rest, given the size of the sums you’re about to receive, I’ll retain the property for now. His belongings mostly consist of personal effects from his retirement home—photos, clothes, memorabilia. They’ve been moved to storage, and you’re welcome to them.”

Kathy scoffed, leaning back in her chair like a queen displeased with her court. Suzi could almost see the yacht or luxury car parade Kathy had imagined herself inheriting dissolve into nothing.

“I understand this isn’t perfect,” Suzi said, her gaze sweeping the table. “It may not be ideal for everyone, but this will take care of your families for generations. John loved you all. This is his legacy.”

She sat down, expecting a barrage of questions or complaints. Instead, silence lingered. Seconds stretched, heavy and uncomfortable, until Ed finally stood and drained the last of his coffee. “Do we need to sign something, then?”

Ernie took over, handing out packets of information to each sibling. He explained the forms and options, walking them through what they needed to fill out depending on whether they chose the lump-sum payout or annual payments.

As Ernie spoke, Nick leaned in close, his voice low. “Is this going to put a dent in what you need to pay Eloy? I get it if it is—”

Suzi shook her head, cutting him off. “No. I wired Eloy his funds last week.”

Nick blinked in surprise, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He gave her a brief nod, his eyes lighting up as if a puzzle piece in his mind had finally clicked into place. Without another word, he stepped out, phone already in hand, his expression one of relief and determination.

The McGillicuddy family lingered after the paperwork was signed, murmuring amongst themselves. There was a cautious sense of reunion in the room—strained, but hopeful. When they finally began to leave, they thanked Suzi quietly, each in their own way. Kathy didn’t bother.

Ernie stayed behind, carefully arranging the signed forms into neat stacks. “Ms. Bachman,” he said, gesturing to the paperwork he’d set aside for her. “Here are your copies and the routing numbers for the accounts.”

Suzi exhaled deeply, her shoulders relaxing for the first time that morning. “Thank you, Ernie. I can’t imagine dealing with her more than the few times I already have.”

He smirked, glancing toward the door where Kathy had left. “She’s bitter, but the rest of them are puppies by comparison. And this—well, this was my pleasure. Thanks to your generosity, the missus and I can finally retire in Boca.”

Suzi smiled faintly. “Glad I could help.” She gathered her paperwork, tucked it under her arm, and made her way through the building to check in one last time.

Nick was on a call when she passed his office, so she waved silently. Lynn was at the front desk, her ever-pleasant smile lighting up when she spotted Suzi.

“Did you hear?” Lynn asked, practically bouncing in her seat. “Doyle’s on the mend. Sounds like he might be back to work next week.”

Suzi’s stomach twisted. A thousand questions spiraled in her mind, each more unsettling than the last. But her face betrayed nothing—just a polite smile she had perfected over years of hiding the chaos inside. “That’s great news. Now your dad only has to replace me.”

Lynn’s smile faltered. “I didn’t mean it like that…”

“I know.” Suzi reached out and gave her a quick hug. “Stay out of trouble, okay?”

With a wink, she turned and stepped out into the cold. The sharp bite of the air felt grounding, a reminder of the things she couldn’t change—and the things she still could.

* * * * *

Suzi pulled into the lot, cutting the engine and gripping the steering wheel for a moment longer than necessary. A promise was a promise, and today it meant training with Kyle and Bear. She couldn’t deny the pull—both the need to sharpen her skills and the itch to explore more of the relics that felt like keys to a power she barely understood.

Inside the building, the sound of iron weights clanking and rhythmic grunts reached her before the sight of them did. She stepped into the training room to find Kyle, shirtless, bench-pressing a bar that looked like it was forged to crush mortal men. Bear, meanwhile, hunched over a book, scribbling like a professor preparing a lecture.

Without looking up, Bear spoke, his tone calm but deliberate. “We’ll start with the Gauntlet of Hofniel today. It’s a solid defensive tool and fairly straightforward to master.” He glanced up, eyes sharp over the rim of his glasses. “Suzi, go fetch it. Let’s see if you can absorb it.”

Kyle sat up on the bench, wiping sweat off his brow with the back of his hand. Suzi tossed him a small wave before heading out to retrieve the relic.

The gauntlet was cold and weighty in her hand as she slid her fingers into it. She whispered its name, feeling a surge of power ripple through her arm as the gauntlet disappeared into her essence. A faint smile tugged at her lips. By the time she returned to the gym, her hand was bare, fingers flexing as if nothing had changed.

Bear’s eyes narrowed with approval as she whispered its name again, and the gauntlet shimmered back into existence. She turned her hand over, marveling at the intricate metalwork that now felt like a natural extension of her body.

“Remarkable,” Bear said, his tone measured but unmistakably impressed.

Suzi curled her fingers into a fist, testing the balance of the gauntlet. The weight was there, but it didn’t drag—it felt purposeful, almost alive. Swinging her arm experimentally, she asked, “This is the one Darcy used that night, right? It makes the shield of light?”

Bear nodded. “That’s its primary function, yes. According to legend, Hofniel used this gauntlet to hold the sun in place, aiding Joshua in his victory over the Canaanites.” His voice carried the weight of lore, but his eyes betrayed skepticism. “But I’ve found no solid proof of that. Darcy was the only one to truly master it, and even then, it’s a relatively new addition to her collection.”

The mention of Darcy’s name sent a pang through Suzi—half longing, half ache. She pushed it aside, focusing on the here and now.

“Speaking of new,” she said, flexing her gauntleted hand again, “did either of you buy a new truck?”

Kyle paused mid-sip from a water bottle, his brow furrowing. “No. Why?”

“That big black pickup out front. It’s been parked there for days—ever since we fought the android.” She shrugged. “I figured it belonged to one of you.”

Bear and Kyle exchanged a look. The kind of look that spoke volumes without a word passing between them.

“You mean Aiden’s truck?” Kyle asked cautiously, his eyes narrowing in thought.

Suzi blinked, tilting her head. “Aiden?” She rolled her eyes, the name tasting foreign on her tongue. “Okay, great. So… who’s Aiden?”

The air shifted. Bear’s expression hardened, the stoicism in his face cracking just slightly. Kyle rubbed his beard, glancing toward the window as if half-expecting to see something—or someone—waiting outside.

The silence hung there, weighty and unspoken, before Suzi planted her hands on her hips and arched a brow. “Well?” she pressed, her voice sharper now. “Who the hell is Aiden?”