“I’ll be off,” David said, putting his coat on.

Vincent looked up from his computer at him. “Alright. I’m expecting you here tomorrow at 8. Good night.”

“Bye,” David smiled and he turned to Naomi. “Bye, Naomi.” Naomi waved at him as she kept her focus on her report. David said his goodbyes to his other colleagues and went outside to the subway station. When he almost got there, he felt the vibration of his phone in his pocket. He picked it up and held it against his ear. “Good evening, David speaking,” he said in a monotone voice.

“Ay, David!” Mike replied cheerfully. “What’s up?”

“Hey, Mike,” he sighed and let his shoulders drop. “I expected that my boss called me to come back. I’m good. How are you?”

“I’m just vibin’ out here, ya know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout? If you don’t have shit to do, do you wanna join me and Wyatt at this jazz bar?” Mike asked. “They also have a coffee machine if you wanna drink that instead of booze.”

“Coffee?” David asked, wanting to accept at the moment he heard that. “I can go for some coffee right now. Alright, send me the location. I don’t own a car, so it’ll take a while.”

“Okay, see ya later.” Mike hung up and turned to Ray with a smug expression on his face. “This is gonna be all worth it.”

“You’re fucking dead,” Ray deadpanned. “But I am interested in the outcome. Wyatt wouldn’t start a fight in here and I’ve never seen him furious. So, that’ll be a new experience for David and me. If he’s right on time.”

"Pray for me," Mike sighed and took a swig from his cola. He put his empty glass back on the counter. "I'm not gonna lie, but I'm a lil' scared. That fool can be scary as fuck. Was it really worth it?"

"We'll see," Ray replied.

"We'll see what?" Ray's and Mike's eyes widened when they heard Wyatt ask that question. Wyatt sat back down and eyed them suspiciously. "What did you two do?"

"Nothing special," Ray answered. "We were just talking about that David guy and your childhood."

Mike looked betrayed at Ray while Wyatt turned to Mike with murderous intent. "What did you say to him?" Wyatt demanded.

"I didn't do shit. We were just talkin' 'bout how David's a detective. Ray said that he was interested in him. Not in that way though." Ray kept quiet and Wyatt's face had doubt written all over it. "Aye man, it is what it is."

"He isn't wrong," Ray spoke up. "I am curious about it because I do find it unexpected that someone likes you."

"I know right?!" Mike laughed. "That shit's weird as hell. I didn't expect that either. But don't forget that I put a nice word out for him."

"No one asked you to put a good word for me," Wyatt sighed. "Well, at least you didn't put me on a dating app." Mike kept quiet and looked at Ray, pressing his lips into a thin line. "Please say that you didn't do that."

"Of course I didn't. I don't do that behind my homie's back," Mike grinned, slapping Wyatt's back.

Ray looked at them with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you get tired of him slapping your back?" he asked. "'Cause that looks like it hurts."

"I'm used to it," Wyatt replied while he pushed his mug towards Ray.

"Do you want a refill?" he asked.

Wyatt nodded. "If I may."

"What? You plannin' on stayin' up tonight?" Mike asked. "Whatcha gonna do? Have a movie marathon or somethin'? I wanna join too!"

"Don't you have work at eight tomorrow?" Wyatt reminded and Mike faltered. "Yeah, shut up."

"Where do you work?"

Mike turned towards Ray. "At a grocery store. It's kinda boring." He sighed. "Man, I wish that I could've continued basketball in high school. But my momma didn't have enough money to let me go to a good school with a better coach. And I couldn't get a scholarship."

"That sucks," Ray said while he turned the coffee machine back on. "But it could've been worse. Look where this guy ended up." He nodded at Wyatt.

"That’s true," he agreed and frowned at Ray. "Wait, what does that suppose to mean?"

"Nothing," Ray smiled as he put the mug in front of Wyatt. "I was just teasing you."

"Nah man, that fool's deadass makin' fun of ya," Mike said to Wyatt seriously. "Trust me on this one."

"I wouldn't expect anything else from him," Wyatt sighed.

Mike raised his eyebrows. "Are ya really gonna take that? He wants some smoke."

"You love drama, huh," Ray smirked. "Go look on the internet for that shit." He turned towards Wyatt. "Do you want the same thing? Oh, I know something that you'd like." Ray grabbed a clean mug and put it in the coffee machine. He pressed a few buttons and looked back at Wyatt. "So, what's this about the guy you want to fuck?"

Wyatt whipped his head towards Mike and narrowed his eyes out of suspicion. "What else did you say to him?"

"Nothin' man!" Mike yelled. "We were just talkin' 'bout life and how fucked it is here in New York. All them gang wars goin' 'round n’ the cops ain't doin' shit 'bout it."

"I wonder what David thinks about that," Wyatt muttered as Ray put the mug in front of Wyatt.

"Oh?" Ray's face turned smug while he dropped a few sugar packets next to the mug. "Are you curious about his opinion about those things? I could imagine since he's a detective after all."

"Yeah," Wyatt replied while he lined up the sugar packets. He ripped them in one swift move and poured all the content into his mug. "And his way of thinking can be compelling," he added, stirring the coffee.

"But that bitch be talkin' too fancy and... "posh" for my feelin'," Mike said. "Usin' big ass words that I ain't understandin'."

Wyatt looked at him, a puzzled expression visible on his face. "Posh?" He repeated. "Where did you learn that word?"

"What was that?" Mike demanded, standing up from his chair. "Fight me, bitch!"

"Oooh, he called you a bitch." Ray snorted in amusement as he turned towards Wyatt. "Are you really going to take his bullshit? Beat his ass."

Wyatt sighed and stirred his coffee. He eyed Mike sideways with his brow raised, showing that he isn't in the mood for this right now.

Mike understood his expression and sat back down, his mouth curving into a grin. "Yeah, yeah. I know," he grinned.

"Good." Wyatt grabbed the mug and held it against his lips. Right when he wanted to take a sip from it, the door opened. The three of them turned to the door, waiting for the person to show themselves. Their eyes bulged when they saw David observing the area.

David's poker face transformed into a smile when he saw Wyatt staring at him bewildered. He walked up to them. "Good evening."

"So you're David, huh," Ray whispered and held his hand out. "I'm Ray. I'm the current owner of this jazz club."

"David Stone," he smiled politely and shook his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"You can sit anywhere you like." Ray glanced at Wyatt. His mouth twitched when he saw that Wyatt was still processing David being here with them. "But there's also an empty place next to Wyatt especially reserved for you."

"Ah, thank you." He sat on the barstool next to Wyatt, dropping his briefcase next to him on the ground.

"I've heard from Wyatt that you love coffee. And you're just in luck. I just got this today," Ray grinned while he slapped the machine. "So, what do you want?"

"An espresso, please." Ray nodded and turned his focus on the machine. While David continued talking with Ray, Wyatt nudged Mike.

"What is he doing here?" Wyatt whispered harshly.

Mike's eyes narrowed while they darted around the room. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, man. What is he doin' here? I ain't even talk to him today. Maybe Ray invited him."

"But Ray didn't even know David existed until you brought him up," Wyatt whispered.

"Aye, man. It already happened. Let's just enjoy the moment."

"Mike," David called while Ray put his espresso in front of him. "Thank you for inviting me here."

"No problem, man," Mike grinned, ignoring Wyatt's death glare. "So, we were just talkin' 'bout them gang wars before you came. Do you know somethin' 'bout it?"

David rubbed his chin. "I don’t know precisely about the situation, since I was not granted access to the case. However, I overheard one of my colleagues say that they've found a lead on one of the gangs." David turned back toward the others who were listening attentively. "But it's only a small lead though. They don't have a clue about the identities of the gang members themself."

"But what's the lead?" Ray asked.

"It's about their base being in Manhattan," he replied. "But they aren't sure about that yet."

"Huh," Mike whispered. "Aren't ya curious 'bout it?"

"I am," David answered. "It's certainly a case that intrigues me quite a bit, but that doesn't mean that I can stick my nose into it." He drank a little from his coffee.

"And? Is it good?"

David glanced at Ray. "It's not bad," he replied.

"Well, what did you expect? It's from a coffee machine," Ray smirked.

"Hey, Ray! Can we get another round of beer here?" A guy shouted from their table.

"Give me a sec," he shouted back.

"Um, Wyatt," David called. "Do you know where the restroom is?"

Wyatt pointed at the door next to the bar. "If you go in there, take a left and the door for the toilet will be there," he explained.

"Thank you," he beamed. He got off his barstool and walked to the door.

When he was out of their sight, Mike nudged Wyatt. "I told ya," Mike whispered smugly.

Wyatt turned to Mike with cold eyes. "What is he doing here?" He demanded.

"I'm sorry, man!" Mike cried. "Ray told me to invite him!"

"Did not!" Ray shouted.

Mike shot him a pained look. "The fuck, Ray?" Wyatt grabbed Mike's collar while Mike raised his hands up as a defense. "Hey, hey, hey! Don't kill me, Wyatt! Ray! Help me!"

"Fuck that," he said while he walked back behind the bar.

"Fuck you! Wait, please don't kill me! PLEASE!" Mike squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the blow. Instead of hitting him, Wyatt let go of his collar and turned back to his coffee when he heard the door open.

David furrowed his eyebrows when he saw Mike looking scared at Wyatt. "What's wrong?"

"He just likes to overreact," Wyatt smiled.

David's heart skipped a beat. "He smiled at me! This is definitely an improvement!" He sat back on the barstool and drank from his coffee. "How are you?"

"I'm good, but I do feel pretty tired after this week," Wyatt replied. "What about you?"

"It has been an exhausting week for me as well." David put his elbow on the counter and used his hand to rest his head onto. "But I'm glad that I made time to see you again."

Wyatt could feel Ray and Mike's eyes boring into his head. "Same here."

"Hey Wyatt~," Mike sang while he wrapped his arm around him. "I ain't have shit to do this weekend. Do you, David?"

David shook his head. "I don't have any plans."

"Why don't ya come over Saturday?" Mike offered. "Wyatt has this week off and it has already been a month since I asked ya."

"That would be great," David smiled. "That is if Wyatt is fine with it as well."

"It's alright," Wyatt said.

"Oh, hell yeah! Whaddya want to eat?" Mike asked.

An hour has passed of them talking about Wyatt’s specialties were while Ray and Wyatt listened to them. David's phone rang and he saw that his sister was calling him. He looked at the time and read that it was already 11:30 PM. "Give me a moment." He answered the call and put his phone against his ear. "I'll call you later. And I'm not bringing anything for you." He hung up with a sigh and put his phone in his pocket.

"Who was that?" Mike asked.

"My younger sister," David said. "She's living with me and she asked just now when I'll be coming home. It is actually getting late, so I think that it's time for us to part ways."

"I think that it's better for us to go too," Wyatt said. "You still have to work tomorrow."

"Can't I just call in sick?" Mike groaned.

"No Japan for you then."

"Chill! I was just makin' a joke," Mike grinned.

"Well, till next time," Wyatt said to Ray.

"Bye guys." They all said goodbye to him and went outside.

"Do you want a ride home?" Wyatt asked David. "Or I can walk you to the station."

"No, I'm fine. It's only a minute walk and I’m capable enough to defend myself if I run in any trouble," David grinned.

"Oh yeah," Wyatt replied, remembering that one time in the alley. "Remind me to send you the address later."

"Alright. Goodnight, Wyatt," he smiled. "And goodnight, Mike."

"Night, man," Mike grinned.

"Goodnight, David."

"He said my name!" David waved at them and turned his back to walk to the station.

"So? I saw a lot of flirtin'," Mike said behind him, smirking smugly. "I'll be goin' too. I'll call ya tomorrow Wyatt."

"Bye." Wyatt walked to the back of the club back to his car. When Wyatt wanted to grab his keys to his car, he remembered that he left them inside the club. He stopped in his tracks when he felt a pair of eyes watching his every move. He scanned the area and walked into an alley next to him. Halfway, he stopped and he heard a metallic click behind him. He turned around and saw a hooded man pointing a gun at him.

"What do you want?"