James stiffened but still tried his best to keep his smile in place. “I haven’t seen your father’s friends in a long while, especially after your parents died. They all had their reasons for leaving.” He took a deep breath; Darius could tell he was upset. James continued, “At the time, I couldn’t accept your father’s death and would’ve appreciated having them around—at least it’d make me feel like he was still alive. I know they weren’t obligated to do anything, but they didn’t even bother attending the funeral. Yet here they are, years later, talking to you about their relationship with your father. I refuse to believe a word they say!” He tried to keep his fury at bay but still couldn’t help trembling. “You can’t trust them fully, so remember to take their words with a grain of salt. After all, there’s no guaranteeing they didn’t befriend your father with a hidden agenda; who knows what they’ve been up to all these years?”

Darius had never heard James speak so much before; he was ob