Marlowe
The formal signing took place a few weeks later, hosted at the Ironclad Wolves' den with considerably more ceremony than I'd anticipated — both clubs' senior members gathered in the main yard, Ronan arriving alongside his own President, a weathered, serious woman named Delacroix who studied me with careful, assessing interest the moment we were introduced.
"So you're the one Ronan's been talking about nonstop," she said, shaking my hand with a firm, businesslike grip. "Co-owner of a garage, ended a twelve-year war, negotiated better contract language than my own legal advisor originally drafted. I'm curious to see if the reputation matches the reality."
"I suppose we're about to find out," I said, meeting her assessing gaze steadily despite the nervous flutter in my chest.
She
