Page 44 of The Truths We Seek

He groans again and I cackle as I skip from the room, feeling much better than I did when I came down earlier.

“You will be the death of me, Quinn Summers.”

“Maybe,” I call back over my shoulder. “But at least you’ll die with a smile.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

MEYER

This fucking world is getting more and more twisted and complicated with each day. Long gone are the days when Pops ran this city with ease. No, now we have unruly fucking bikers thinking they can stomp on whatever ground they want to and break deals when I’ve allowed them to work with us rather than for us…

And now the Knights have come calling.

I knew they would eventually. As soon as I heard about them, I knew the days were numbered before Echoes Cove wasn’t big enough for them anymore. Businesses like ours don’t grow like ours has and stay off their radar. Hell, they probably knew about us before I took over, but Pops kept the ship tight and small. I’ve been about expansion and growth.

Apparently, I was too ambitious. I don’t want to work for someone, and I have zero intention of doing so. You don’t work as hard as I have, as we have, to bow to someone else.

Knights or not.

There might not be a ton of information out there, but I’ve done enough research to know the sort of people I’m coming into contact with.

The rich kids whose veins run blue; that want a piece of every pie because they feel entitled to it. Their organization runs far and wide, deeply rooted across the world, with members at all levels of life from what I can see.

But I don’t want to be a part of it…

I’m not sure what sort of weight they’re going to throw around though. Once upon a time, our world kept family out of dealings. These days, family is weakness, which means I have a fuck ton of it.

O’Connor pulls up to the pretentious-as-fuck restaurant at which my presence was demanded, and I hear his snort as he shuts the engine off at the valet stop. “This place is… something,” he sniggers.

“You’re not wrong,” I retort, eyeing the place up. “I bet the food is shit too.”

“Usually is at places like this. All about aesthetics rather than good food.”

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I reach for the handle and climb from the car. O’Connor climbs out moments later and tosses the keys to the kid at valet, whose eyes go wide when he takes in the Bentley. “Look after it,” O’Connor says, glaring at the kid, who nods a little too fast.

Can’t be the only decent car he’s seen here, so maybe he’s just got a hard on for Bentleys. Can’t blame the kid, it’s a work of beauty.

We head inside, O’Connor never more than a step behind me. I wanted Hunter here too, but with Rory out today dealing with Dario again, as well as accompanying the drug truck we took from them down south, we figured it best if Hunter stayed home with our girl. I grab my phone and shoot Rory a text to remind him to only play a little nice, before sliding it back in my pocket.

Dario blew past Rory’s deadline for an answer, which means they either get a worse deal, or they get cut out entirely. Even if that means clearing them from the map. Again. But before I decide to do that, I need to work out what the Demons are up to and figure this shit out with the Knights today. O’Connor is the person I trust most, after Mateo, but Mateo has been a brat lately, so I’ve left him out East dealing with Tommy’s stuff. O’Connor might just seem like my driver, and that’s exactly how I want the world to see it, but he’s so much more than that. Everyone underestimates the staff.

I step up to the maître d’ desk and smile tightly at the guy standing behind it. His eyes go wide when he sees me and I hold back a smile. I guess he knows who I am. It’s always nice when my reputation precedes me. Makes my life easier sometimes. “Meyer Marino. I’m here to see Edward Riley.”

The guy’s brows dart up but he nods without even checking the tablet in front of him. “Of course, sir. Your party is already seated. Please, follow me.”

Of course they are, I’m twenty minutes early and he’s still here early. Though, by the sounds of it, he’s not alone.

I glance at O’Connor, who rolls his eyes, mirroring my sentiments, then follows the maître d’ through the busy restaurant. It’s like something out of a country club advertisement; all dark wood paneling, marble floors, plush chairs, and just money thrown around recklessly on decor.

Our visitors are easy to spot on the far side of the restaurant at the corner table, backs to the wall so they can watch the entire room. Usually, I’d be pissed they took the advantageous spot, but it makes me smile.

They have something to fear here, otherwise they wouldn’t have positioned themselves like that, and that’s an advantage for me. They haven’t dabbled in our city before, and now I have an inkling that there’s more to that than us potentially just being a small fish in their world.

I recognize Edward. He summoned me here, so I did my research. Marc Garcetti, our city’s mayor, is a shock though. As is Stone Royal. I thought he was a musician, not someone I expected to see, even though I discovered his family was interlinked. What I saw was more to do with his father than him, but I guess that’s the way of an organization like theirs.

“Meyer Marino, it’s good to finally meet you,” Edward says, standing as we reach the table. The other two stand with him and it’s a power play, dick measuring handshakes all round.

“Nice to meet you. This is Mikey O’Connor.” O’Connor plays his part well and takes a seat beside me when Edward motions to the chairs.

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