The sun shone brightly through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Darla hummed a happy tune as she finished her morning chores. Rhodes, lounging on the couch, watched her with a smile.
"Good morning, darling. Sleep well?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
Darla's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I did, thank you."
Just as they were enjoying a peaceful morning together, the doorbell rang. Darla's eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, "Brother!"
Rhodes's eyes narrowed slightly, feeling a pang of jealousy. Who was this brother that made Darla so happy?
As Mason walked in, Rhodes's eyes widened in surprise. Mason's glare was intense, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Rhodes.
"Hey, baby sis. And you are?" Mason asked, his tone cold and menacing.
Rhodes stood up, extending his hand for a handshake. "Rhodes."
Mason's jaw ticked as he shook Rhodes's hand. "Her partner?" he repeated, his voice rising in anger.
Darla nodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Yes, Mason. Rhodes is my partner."
Mason's face darkened, and he turned to Darla. "Darla, what is this? You can't just introduce me to some stranger and expect me to be okay with it."
Rhodes stepped forward, his eyes locked on Mason. "I understand your concern, Mason. But I assure you, my intentions are pure."
Mason's sneer deepened. "Save it, pal. I'm not buying it."
With that, Mason turned and stormed out of the house, leaving Darla and Rhodes staring after him in surprise.
Darla turned to Rhodes, a smile still plastered on her face. "I think you should be ready, Mason is going to come back prepared."
Rhodes raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What makes you think that?"
Darla's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Because Mason is a bit of a hothead. He'll be back, and he'll be ready to grill you."
Rhodes chuckled, pulling Darla into a hug. "I'm ready for him."
And true to Darla's words, Mason returned a few minutes later, a sneer still plastered on his face.
"Alright, Rhodes. Let's get down to business. I want to know everything about you."
Rhodes smiled, unfazed by Mason's hostility. "Fire away, Mason."
Mason's eyes narrowed. "Where are you from?"
Rhodes leaned back in his chair, a calm and collected expression on his face. "I'm from the Azure Domain."
Mason's eyebrows rose, impressed despite himself. "The Azure Domain? That's a pretty rough place."
Rhodes's expression remained neutral. "It has its challenges."
Mason's gaze intensified. "What did you do there?"
Rhodes's eyes seemed to cloud over, a hint of darkness flickering in their depths. "I was a leader."
Mason's eyes widened, surprised. "A leader? At how old?"
Rhodes's expression remained stoic. "I took over at 25."
Mason's face darkened, his jaw clenched in concern. "And what do you do now?"
Rhodes's eyes narrowed slightly. "I run a business. One that requires me to travel occasionally."
Mason's face twisted in disapproval. "You're going to leave Darla alone?"
Rhodes's expression remained calm. "Sometimes, yes. But I'll always ensure her safety."
Mason's gaze intensified. "And what makes you think you're qualified to take care of my sister?"
Rhodes's eyes seemed to flash with anger, but his voice remained low and even. "I'm qualified because I care about Darla deeply."
Mason's expression softened slightly, seeming to accept that. "Alright, Rhodes. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
As Mason left, Darla decided to cook them a meal, seeing how none of them had had breakfast. "I'm starving! Who's up for some breakfast?"
Rhodes smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I could eat."
Mason returned, his expression slightly softer. "Yeah, I could eat too."
Darla smiled, happy to see her brother's demeanor improve. "Great! I'll whip up some pancakes and eggs."
As Darla cooked, the tension in the room began to dissipate. Rhodes and Mason sat down at the table, their eyes locked in a silent understanding.
When Darla brought out the food, the delicious smell filled the room, and everyone dug in, savoring the warm, fluffy pancakes and scrambled eggs.
As they ate, Mason's questions resumed, but this time, they were less hostile. Rhodes answered calmly, explaining his business and his plans for the future.
Darla watched, pleased to see her brother and Rhodes getting along better. She knew Mason was still wary, but she also knew he would come around eventually.
After breakfast, Mason warned Rhodes again. "Remember, if you hurt my sister, you'll answer to me."
Rhodes's expression remained stoic. "I won't hurt her."
Mason nodded, seeming to accept that. "Good. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
As Mason left, Darla skipped over to Rhodes, a bright smile on her face. "I'm so glad that's over! I was worried Mason was going to grill you all day."
Rhodes's expression remained stoic, but he opened his arms to Darla, allowing her to snuggle into his chest. "It's done," he said simply.
Darla wrapped her arms around him, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Yeah, you did great. Mason can be intimidating."
Rhodes's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze intense. "I'm not intimidated."
Darla giggled, looking up at him with sparkling eyes. "I know you're not. That's why I'm so proud of you."
Rhodes's expression softened slightly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. But his voice remained low and rough. "You don't need to be proud of me, Darla. I'll always take care of you."
Darla's heart skipped a beat at the intensity in his voice. She felt a shiver run down her spine as Rhodes's arms tightened around her.