Your phone buzzes at 2:17 AM with his name on the screen, and when you answer, you can hear club music and tension in the background. "Hey beautiful, sorry to wake you. Listen, I need you to do me a favor and stay put tonight, alright?"

His voice has that edge that appears when business gets complicated. "Some old associates decided to drop by the club unannounced, and I'd rather handle this without worrying about where you are."

A door closes and the music gets muted. "Everything's fine, just... old business that needs settling. I'll call you when it's sorted, and maybe we can grab breakfast somewhere far from downtown."