“I also want you to hear this directly from me. I ordered a hit on your brother after that bust. It was business. Not personal. And I didn’t have full knowledge that Tyrique wasn’t aware of his connection to the Mendaro Syndicate.”
The room goes quiet.
Lolo’s jaw tightens, but her voice stays steady.
“I won’t pretend I’m not still angry,” she says. “But I understand the rules of the world we live in.”
“That’s all I can ask,” he replies.
Then he says. “Royal Bastard chapters across California are moving on the Syndicate’s main base in Los Angeles right now. If intel is solid, Mendaro leadership won’t survive the day.”
She closes her eyes for just a second.
“Good,” she says. “I hope they put every one of those fuckers in the ground.”
The line clicks dead. No goodbye, no acknowledgements. Typical Jameson.
Silence settles in the room, charged with something I can’t read.
I turn toward her, but Mav lifts a hand.
“Not done yet.”
He looks at Lolo. “I know you quit the force. And after watching how you handled Tony… Herrera… and after you saved my life…”
His voice firms.
“I know you wouldn’t be satisfied being anyone’s old lady.”
I shoot him a look. He’s not wrong, but still…
“So,” Mav continues, sliding something across the desk, “I ran it past Jameson last night, and he agrees.”
A folded black kutte stops in front of her.
“I’m offering you a prospect patch with the Royal Bastards.”
Lolo stares at it like it might explode.
Then she looks at me for reassurance.
“How do you feel about that?” she asks quietly.
I step closer, thumb brushing her knuckles.
“I’d be honored to have you riding by my side,” I say. “And even more honored knowing every brother in this house would die before letting anything touch you.”
She swallows hard.
“Then, I accept.”
Mav nods once. “Good. Get some rest. Prospect duties start first thing tomorrow.”
Leaving the office, I shut the door, blowing out a breath.
The hallway feels different now… lighter somehow. Lolo’s hand is still in mine, her thumb brushing slow circles against my knuckles like she’s grounding herself in what just happened. In what she just became… a fucking prospect.
“You okay?” I ask.
