Page 20 of Jabba's Journey

Wait, what? He’s talking to mein my head?

“Yeah, my water nymph, I can talk to you thanks to our mate bond. You can’t drown my brothers, though. It’s really bad form, I’m afraid.”

Great, now he’s quoting the movieHookto me? I shake my head as he squeezes me.

“For your information, Jazzylovesher Uncle Jabba and the fact that he was willing to learn how to style her hair has no bearing on whether or not he’s a badass biker. How many times have one of y’all gone off half-cocked about something only to have him calm your asses down?” Cyrus asks.

The room quietens at Cyrus’s remark. All of them looking ashamed of how they downgraded such an important position within their club.

“So, how does this tie in to what Jabba said happened with the dark clouds and shit?” Turtle asks.

“That’s something we’re going to have to figure out for ourselves as we go. As you can tell, none of these prophecies or lores we’ve crossed fill in any details,” Cyrus explains.

“That’s because it can change the outcome, and not always for the better,” I insert.

Chapter Eleven

Jabba

We tossa few more ideas around and the consensus is that the three women will work at enhancing the wards currently around both clubhouses, as well as our businesses. We’ll increase patrols and ensure that the humans who work for us stay safe. It’s not outside of the realm of possibility for the unknown enemy to use our employees in such a way that it would force us to react.

First and foremost, they’ll be creating talismans that anyone patrolling can wear without fear of losing it if shifting, as well as the two little girls. I may not be fully in the know where the two of them are concerned, but there’s something unique about both of them and even if I can’t put my finger on the reason why, they must be protected at all costs.

Finally, Cyrus bangs his gavel and says, “Let’s grab something to eat.”

“Who’s cooking?” Prowler asks while rubbing his belly.

“The prospects have burgers and dogs on the grill, and they also picked up some premade salads,” Cyrus advises. “If it were both full clubs, we’d have steaks and ribs, of course, but this’ll do.”

We all laugh, which I suspect was his intention as we head out of our meeting room. Electra’s fingers are laced with mine and I find that despite the disparity in our size, she fits just right.

“Come with me for a few minutes,” I whisper to Electra. When she nods, I take her to my room. No, it’s now going to beourroom and I’m fucking grateful that I never brought one of the club girls inside and tainted it with their perfume. Some wolves don’t have a problem with other women in their dens, but it always bothered me, so if I had to scratch an itch, I used one of the social rooms downstairs and kept my individual space untouched.

“What’s going on, Jabba?” she asks once we’re inside and the door is closed.

“I know you smelled Queenie on me earlier. I could sense your distress, but I want to explain what happened.”

“Okay,” she drawls out. “And just to say, yes, I did smell her on you, and it rankled me because it wasn’t too long after you mate claimed me.”

I shake my head, and run my hand across the back of my neck as I come up with the words to explain the run in I had in the hallway with Queenie. “Nymph, I was running to get changed before everyone got here for our meeting and literally crashed into her. It was nothing more than that, I promise.”

“She tried to make it seem like it was more than that,” Electra says once I’ve finished explaining what happened.

“When?”

“When we were in the kitchen going over our books, she said something that was a bit… bitchy. Harmony calmed me down and told me I needed to talk to you about it instead of flying off the handle. Since we have bigger issues that are apparently coming, I shelved it, but I’m glad you brought it up so we could clear the air. I know she was just trying to stir up trouble. I’m… I’m not the most experienced person out there, Jabba, and for a few minutes, I bought the lies she was trying to sell.” Pride swamps me when I realize she’s comfortable enough with me to find her voice and give me the truth, instead of what she thinks I want to hear.

“Thank you for that, Electra. I’ll always want you to tell me how you’re feeling. I mean, I know I’ll be able to feel it through our bond, but any encounters you have with any of them where they try to rattle you, I want to know as soon as you’re able to tell me.”

“I will, I promise,” she replies. “So, we can talk to each other in our heads, huh? That was a bit unexpected, but I can see where it will come in handy.”

I chuckle at how she’s changing the subject. She’s clever, my little water witch, that’s for sure, and I look forward to learning everything there is to know about her. “Come on, Nymph, let’s go eat. You’re going to need your strength for later.”

“Oh, really?” she teases. I love how happy and free she sounds right now. It’s much different to the confused, scared woman who woke up in my bed when she was first brought to the clubhouse for protection.

“Definitely. Earlier was to make sure everyone stayed safe. Later is for us, and I plan to take my time with you.”

“I’m looking forward to that,” she admits, smiling shyly at me as I take her hand in mine once again.

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