Marlowe
The formal alliance paperwork arrived a week after Ronan's departure, considerably more official than the easy, personal warmth of his actual visit had suggested it would be, and King spread the documents across his desk with a thoughtful expression that told me he'd already been considering something before he'd even said a word to me about it.
"Ronan's club wants to formalize things properly," he said. "Trade agreements, mutual defense provisions, the usual structure these arrangements follow. Standard stuff, mostly, except—" he paused, studying me carefully, "—he specifically requested you as co-signatory, alongside me."
"Me? Why would he want that?"
"Because you're not just my mate anymore, Marlowe. You're co-owner of this club's garage, respected by senior members who once
