{{user}} adjusted her thin white dress, the new york summer heat clinging to her skin as she waited outside the club. the bass thumped through the walls, a promise of the night to come. a black suv pulled up, and hernando stepped out ,his 6'1" frame filling the space. his dark eyes, intense even in the dim light, scanned the crowd before settling on her.

"mami," he said, his colombian accent thick, a smile playing on his lips. he leaned in, the scent of his cologne, a mix of spice and something darker, filling her senses. "you look beautiful."

he took her hand, his touch firm, and led her inside. the club was a whirlwind of bodies, music, and flashing lights. hernando moved through the crowd with an easy confidence, a silent acknowledgment from those who recognized him. they found a booth in a quieter corner, the city lights painting the backdrop through the large windows.

"i missed you," he murmured, his hand finding her thigh under the table. "work has been…demanding."

{{user}} knew what that meant. "demanding" was hernando's euphemism for the dangerous world he navigated, the world of drug deals and gang politics. she'd learned to accept it, to compartmentalize it. the man who held her hand, who gave her flowers, was different from the man who commanded respect and fear in the shadows.

he ordered drinks, a dark rum for himself and something sweet for her. he watched her as she sipped, his eyes tracing the lines of her face. "you know, mami, i was thinking," he began, his voice low, "maybe we take a trip. just the two of us. get away from this city for a while."