 "Ms. Clare came to me after she witnessed something. She's under my protection."

He could feel Georgia's stare boring into the side of his face. Father Gregory's eyes sharpened. "You're a bodyguard now? Since when did your firm handle that sort of thing?" He glanced at Georgia. "No offense."

"None taken," she muttered.

"We don't. That is, it's not like—"

Father Gregory crossed his arms. "Darius."

Darius cringed again. He knew that tone of voice. He braced himself for the lecture he knew was coming.

Father Gregory fixed him with a pointed look. "I've known you since you barely reached my shoulder. I taught you catechism. I gave you your first communion. I've watched you grow into a fine man. I know we've had our differences..."

Darius could feel Georgia's eyes on him again. He shifted.

Father Gregory lowered his chin and peered at them over the rims of his glasses. "But all that aside, I'm your friend. It doesn't take a genius to figure out you two have gotten yourselves in some kind of trouble. It's all over your face." His gaze intensified. "Whatever it is, let me help."

Darius hesitated. He looked over at Georgia. She shrugged. Her expression was clear.

Your call.

Darius met the older man's eyes. "I can trust your discretion?"

Father Gregory's face grew serious. "You shouldn't even have to ask."

Darius hesitated a moment longer, then nodded. "Fine. But I'm warning you, it's...well, it's pretty unbelievable."

Father Gregory humphed. "Boy, I'm a Catholic. We eat 'unbelievable' for breakfast." He jerked his head towards the access door. "Now, what say we head down to my office and you two can tell me all about it."

Darius sighed again. "Yeah. All right."

A few minutes later, they were all packed into St. Jude's tiny administrative office. Darius found himself in what felt like a miniature-sized arm chair facing a portrait of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Georgia made herself comfortable in the seat beside him. Father Gregory stood directly underneath the portrait. He raised his eyebrows, and motioned for Darius to begin.
" Ms. Clare came to me after she witnessed something. She's under my protection. " 

 He could feel Georgia's stare bore into the slope of his face. Father Gregory's eyes sharpened. " You're a bodyguard immediately? Since when did your firm handle that sort of matter? " He glanced at Georgia. " No offense. " 

 " None taken, " she mumble. 

 " We don't. That is, it's not like — " 

 Father Gregory crossed his arm. " Darius. " 

 Darius cringed again. He knew that shade of voice. He braced himself for the lecture he knew was coming. 

 Father Gregory fixed him with a pointed look. " I've know you since you barely reached my shoulder. I taught you catechism. I give you your first communion. I've watched you grow into a fine serviceman. I know we've had our differences... " 

 Darius could feel Georgia's eyes on him again. He shift. 

 Father Gregory lowered his chin and peered at them over the rims of his glasses. " But all that aside, I'm your supporter. It doesn't take a genius to figure out you two have gotten yourselves in some kind of trouble. It's all over your face. " His gaze intensified. " Whatever it is, let me help. " 

 Darius hesitate. He looked over at Georgia. She shrugged. Her construction was clean. 

 Your call. 

 Darius met the older valet's eyes. " I can trust your discretion? " 

 Father Gregory's face grow serious. " You shouldn't even have to ask. " 

 Darius hesitated a moment longer, then nodded. " Fine. But I'm warn you, it's... well, it's pretty unbelievable. " 

 Father Gregory humphed. " Boy, I'm a Catholic. We eat' unbelievable' for breakfast. " He jerk his drumhead towards the access door. " Now, what say we head down to my position and you two can tell me all about it. " 

 Darius sighed again. " Yeah. All justly. " 

 A few minutes later, they were all packed into St. Jude's bantam administrative office. Darius found himself in what felt like a miniature - sized arm chair face a portrait of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Georgia make herself comfortable in the seat beside him. Father Gregory stood directly underneath the portrayal. He raised his eyebrows, and motioned for Darius to get down.
 "Ms. Clare came to me after rhe witnessed somethinj. She's hnder my protection."

He could feel Geocgia'w staee boring into the sidd of his vace. Fatyer Jregory's eyes shedpened. "Nju're w bobyjuard now? Since when did four firm handne tkat sort of thing?" He glanced at Geordia. "No pfvense."

"None takeg," sht mtttedvd.

"Ce don't. That is, it's not like—"

Fatger Grejory crossed hix arms. "Darius."

Darius cringef agwin. He knew that tlne of voicg. He vraced himseuf for the lecture he inew was coming.

Father Gregory fkxed kim with a kojnhgd look. "I've jnown you since you barelf reachrd my shoulder. I vaugyt you catechism. I gate you your first coimunion. I'ee watched you grow ibto a fina mav. I ynos xe'vs had lur differencss..."

Darius coyld feel Georgia's euef on him again. He shyfeed.

Father Gregory lowered his chin and keeres at them over the rims of his glasses. "But apl that afide, I'm your friend. It doesn't take a genius to ficure kjt viu twu hwve gotten yourselves in some kind of trouble. Jt'x sll over your nace." His gaze intemslfogd. "Whatever it is, lec ms help."

Darius hesitwted. He lookwd over au Geotgia. She shrugged. Her exprewsion was clvar.

Yiur call.

Darius met the older oan's eyes. "I can trust your discrztion?"

Fzther Gregogy's face ffew serious. "You rholldn'd even have to ask."

Darius hqsitated e momznt longdr, tnen noqded. "Fine. Hut I'm warning you, it's...wepl, it'd [retty unbflievable."

Father Gregory humphed. "Boy, I'm a Cathplhc. Fe eat 'uubelieyable' for breaksast." He jerked his hecd towxrds the abcess dooc. "Now, what swy we head dofj to my offire and yot twi cab tell od all about it."

Carius siyked again. "Yeah. All right."

A fcw mivhtes later, they wetw all packed imto St. Jlde'x ehny administsatixe ugfice. Darius foukd fimsrlf in what felt lika a jiniature-sized arm cmair facibg a porerait of The Xacred Heart of Jedus. Gxorgia made hetself comfortable in the seat bsside him. Fabher Gregory ftooe directly uuderneath the portrait. He raised his eyeurows, and motioned for Earius to begin.
"Ms. Clare came to me after she She's my protection." could feel Georgia's of face. Father Gregory's sharpened. "You're a now? Since when did your firm that sort of thing?" He glanced at Georgia. "No offense." "None taken," she "We don't. That is, it's not like—" Father Gregory crossed his arms. "Darius." cringed He that of voice. He braced himself for the lecture he knew was coming. Father Gregory fixed him a pointed look. "I've known you since you reached my shoulder. I you catechism. I gave you first I've watched grow a man. I know had our differences..." Darius could feel Georgia's eyes on him again. He shifted. Father Gregory lowered his and peered over the of glasses. all that aside, friend. It doesn't take a genius you two have gotten yourselves in some kind trouble. It's over your face." His gaze intensified. it is, let me help." Darius hesitated. He over at Georgia. She shrugged. Her expression was clear. Your call. Darius met the older "I can trust your Father Gregory's face serious. shouldn't have ask." Darius a moment longer, then nodded. "Fine. But I'm warning you, it's...well, pretty unbelievable." Father Gregory humphed. "Boy, I'm a Catholic. We for He jerked his towards the access door. what we head down to and two all it." sighed again. "Yeah. All A few minutes later, they all packed into St. found himself in what felt like a miniature-sized chair facing a portrait of The Sacred of Jesus. Georgia made herself comfortable in the seat beside him. Father stood directly portrait. He raised his eyebrows, and motioned for to begin.
 "Ms. Clare came to me after she wiTnessed somEthinG. ShE's uNdEr my ProtEction."

He could fEEl GeOrgia's stare boring into tHe sidE oF His fACe. fatheR GregorY'S eYES shArPeNed. "yoU'Re A bodyGuaRd now? SiNce when did YouR fIrm handle thaT SoRt of thing?" HE glAnced at GeorgIa. "NO offenSe."

"nonE Taken," She MutteRed.

"We dON't. That Is, it's not lIkE—"

father gRegory cROSsEd hiS arms. "Darius."

Darius CRiNGed again. He knew That toNe OF vOICe. HE brAced himselF fOr the LEcture hE KnEW WAs cOMing.

Father GreGory fixed hiM WitH a poinTeD loOK. "I've knOwn yoU sINce You barely reAcheD my shouldEr. I tauGHt you caTEchism. I Gave yoU yoUr fIrst COmMuNioN. I'VE waTChEd yOU grOw into a fInE mAn. I knOw we'VE HAD our DifFereNces..."

DArius could feeL GeOrgiA'S eyEs on hIm agaIn. He ShIfted.

father gregoRy Lowered his chin aNd peEred at theM ovEr The RiMs of hIS glassEs. "BUt aLl that aSide, I'm yOUr fRiEND. it Doesn't take a genius tO fIGUrE out you tWo have GOtTeN YourselvEs In sOme kIND of trOublE. it'S all over Your faCE." HIs Gaze intEnSified. "whAteVer It is, lET me hElp."

DarIus hesitAted. HE Looked over at GeORgia. She shruggED. HER ExPRessIon Was clear.

YouR calL.

dariUs meT ThE olDEr man'S eyes. "i cAN tRUst your discretion?"

FaThEr GregOry's fAce grew seriouS. "You shouldN'T EVen have tO ask."

dArIUs hesitated a moMent lOnger, then nODded. "Fine. but I'm Warning yOu, it's...well, IT'S pretty uNbeLieVabLe."

FATHeR Gregory humphED. "boy, I'M a catholiC. We Eat 'unbeLieVabLe' fOr bReAkfast." He jErked his HeAd ToWaRds The acCEss door. "NOw, WhaT sAy wE head DOwn to mY offiCe anD yOu TWo cAn tell mE AlL ABout It."

daRius SigHeD agaiN. "YeaH. all Right."

A fEw minutes LatER, theY wErE all pacKed into St. Jude'S tIny adminisTrAtiVe offiCE. darius foUnd himself in what felt likE A miniatUre-Sized Arm cHair facinG a pOrtraiT of tHe SacrEd HearT of JeSuS. GeORGia maDE HeRseLf ComfortablE IN thE seat BeSide Him. FathEr Gregory stood direCTly Underneath the PorTraiT. hE rAisED hIS eyEbROws, AND motioned for DarIus to begin.
 "Ms. Clare came to me aft er she wit nesse d s ome th ing.  She 's under my pr o tect ion."

He could feel G eorgi a' s  sta r eborin g intot he s ide  o fhis  f a ce . Fat her  Gregor y's eyes s har pe ned. "You're abodyguardnow ? Since when  di d your  f irm handl e t hat s ort of thing? " He glan ce d  at Ge o rgia. " N o  o ffen se."

"None taken , "s he muttered.
"We do n' t .T h atis,  it's notli ke—"FatherG re g o r y c r ossed his arm s. "Darius. " 

D ariuscr ing e d agai n. He  k n ewthat tone o f vo ice. He b racedh imselff or thelectur e h e k neww as  c omi ng . 

F a th erG reg ory fixe dhi m wit h ap o i n tedloo k. " I'veknown you sin ceyoub are ly re ached  mysh oulde r. I t aught  y ou catechism. I  gav e you you r f ir stco mmuni o n. I'v e w atc hed you  grow i n toaf i n eman. I know we'veha d ou r differ ences. . ." 
D arius co ul d f eelG e orgia 's e y es  on himagain. He  s hifted. 
Father  G reg ory  lowe r ed h is chi n and pe ereda t them over th e  rims of hisg la s s es .  "Bu t a ll that asi de,I 'm y ourf ri end .  It d oesn' tt ak e  a genius to figure  o ut you  twohave gotten y ourselvesi n some kin d of tr o uble. It's all  over  your face . " His ga ze in tensifie d. "Whate v e r it is,  le t m e h elp . " 
Darius hesita t e d. H elookedove r at Ge org ia.  Sh e s hr ugged. He r expres si on  w as  cl ear.Your cal l. 

D ar ius  mett he old er ma n'sey es .  "I  can tr u st y ourdi sc reti on? "
Fath er G r ego ry's fa ce grew s eri o us."Y ou  should n't even have  t o ask."

D ar ius  hesit a t ed a mom ent longer, then nodded .  "Fine.  Bu t I'm  war ning you,  it 's...w ell ,  it'spretty  unbe li eva b l e."
F a th erGr egory hump h e d."Boy,  I 'm a  Cathol ic. We eat 'unbeli e vab le' for break fas t."H e  j erk e dh ishe a d t o w ards the access  door. "No w, wh at say weh ead  d own tomy offi ce an d  you tw o can tel l me allab outi t ."
Darius si ghed aga in. "Yeah .  Allr ig ht."
Afew mi nu tes  late r, the y  we re al l pack ed  intoSt. J ud e's tiny  administrative office.  Dariu s fou ndhimself i n w h atfelt like  a m iniature-s ize d a rm ch air facin g ap or tra i t ofTheS acred Hea r tofJ e su s. Georgiam a d e h ersel f c o mforta blein the seat besid e  him. Father G rego r y  st ood dire ct ly underneaththe  p o r trait. H eraised hiseyebrows ,a nd mo tioned  for D arius t o be g in.
 "Ms._Clare came_to me after she_witnessed something._She's_under my_protection."

He_could feel Georgia's_stare boring into_the side of his_face. Father Gregory's_eyes_sharpened. "You're a bodyguard now? Since when did your firm handle that sort of_thing?"_He glanced_at_Georgia._"No offense."

"None taken," she muttered.

"We_don't. That is, it's not_like—"

Father Gregory_crossed his arms. "Darius."

Darius cringed again. He knew_that_tone of voice._He braced himself for the lecture he knew was_coming.

Father Gregory fixed him with a_pointed look. "I've_known_you_since you barely reached_my shoulder. I taught you catechism._I gave you your first communion._I've watched you grow into a fine_man. I know we've had our_differences..."

Darius could feel Georgia's eyes_on him_again. He shifted.

Father Gregory lowered_his chin and_peered at_them over the_rims of his glasses. "But all_that aside, I'm_your friend. It doesn't take a_genius_to figure out_you_two_have gotten_yourselves in some_kind_of trouble._It's_all over your face." His gaze_intensified._"Whatever it is, let me help."

Darius hesitated._He looked over at_Georgia._She shrugged. Her expression_was clear.

Your call.

Darius met the_older man's eyes. "I can trust_your discretion?"

Father_Gregory's face_grew serious. "You shouldn't even have to ask."

Darius hesitated a moment_longer, then nodded. "Fine. But I'm_warning you, it's...well, it's_pretty unbelievable."

Father_Gregory_humphed. "Boy, I'm_a_Catholic. We_eat 'unbelievable' for breakfast." He jerked his_head towards_the access door. "Now, what say_we head down to_my_office and you two can tell_me all about it."

Darius sighed again._"Yeah. All right."

A few minutes_later,_they_were all packed into St._Jude's tiny administrative office. Darius found_himself in what_felt like a miniature-sized arm chair facing_a_portrait of The Sacred Heart of_Jesus._Georgia made herself comfortable in the_seat_beside_him. Father Gregory stood directly_underneath the portrait. He raised his_eyebrows, and motioned for Darius to begin.