Page 3 of What They Say

Bear’s big hand paused mid-stroke along Eddie’s hair. “Just spit it out already, Chase. What has you tied in knots?”

“What?” He shook his head. “I’m okay.”

“Liar. You’ve done this huge theatrical sigh four or five times now. If you aren’t even aware you’re carrying that tension, then you need to talk to narrow down the culprit.” Bear shrugged as he continued, “You know you can ask me anything.”

Chase rubbed a hand over his face, buying a second before he had to respond. The question had been circling in his head for weeks, ever since he’d watched Benny spiral again and realized how alone he felt in it. He let out another breath he hadn’t meant to release.

“Who’s your ride or die?”

Bear’s chin lifted, the question clearly taking him by surprise. “Any of the Fort Wayne members. Eddie. Some of the Chicago members. Mason for sure. What has you asking that?”

“I don’t think I have a ride or die.” He shrugged. “Maybe Benny, but then that makes everything harder. Because if he’s my only friend, I don’t want to lose him.”

The admission sat heavy in the room, louder than the muted gunfire on the television. Chase picked at a loose thread on the arm of the couch, avoiding Bear’s steady gaze. He’d spent several years now orbiting the club under different guises. He was Mason’s kid, more recently the musician, but always and forever the outsider who never quite fit into either world. Benny had been the first person who saw him as Chase, not just an extension of his father. But what happened when that friendship got tested?

“And you’d lose him as a friend because you’d do what?” This question was carefully moderated, the tone of voice neither strident nor soft. Right in the middle where things seemed reasonable.

“Break a confidence. Maybe.”

Chase felt the weight of everything he wasn’t saying press against his ribs. The pull towards the club. The fear that chasing music would make him look soft. The nights he lay awake wondering if he was destined to always be on the outside looking in.

“Then you’ve got to decide for yourself if you want to ask those hard questions now or in the future.” Bear reached for his beer, taking a long swallow. “I’m here to listen, little brother. You need me to just shut up and let you talk, I can do that. You want my advice on whatever it is twisting your knickers, I can do that too.”

The simple offer landed like a warm hand on his back. Bear wasn’t pushing, wasn’t judging—just sitting there solid as ever, Eddie sleeping peacefully against him, the picture of the kind of steady loyalty Chase craved.

“Thanks, Bear.” Chase ducked his head a little, not wanting to look Bear in the face. “It means a lot you saying that.” He’d hold his silence for a little longer and watch Benny closely.

There’s lots of time to narc on my only friend.

Chapter Two

Kath

Kath moved through their little house like a ghost, careful and quiet, pressing her back to the wall as she eased around the corner to peer into the kitchen. She was listening for him—Tony, her older sister Maudie’s latest mistake. The man had been circling closer for weeks, and Kath had learned the hard way that staying out of the path of men like him was smarter and easier than trusting Maudie to believe or protect her.

At eighteen, she already knew too much about how the world worked. She’d seen her mother bring home enough men to understand exactly what they wanted and how quickly things could turn ugly. Avoidance was her best defense.

The kitchen was empty. Thank God.

She moved fast, grabbing a couple of sodas and a bag of chips, then a bag of cookies for good measure. Emy was waiting in her room, and the sooner Kath got back behind a locked door, the better she’d feel.

She was halfway down the hall when she heard it.

Emy’s voice—tight and scared, rising in pitch.

“No. You need to back up. There’s nothing in here for you.”

Tony’s low chuckle made Kath’s skin crawl. “Fucking hell, that hurt. And maybe I think you’re wrong. Maybe I think I should come in...all the way in.” He was standing on the other side of the door, like he could hide from everything.

Kath didn’t think. She dropped the snacks on the floor and kicked her bedroom door hard.

The door slapped against Tony’s back, and Maudie must have been listening to the altercation because from down the hallway, she appeared instantly, her face flushed with irritation.

“Tony!” she snapped. “You should come back in here if you know what’s good for you.”

Tony turned, eyes narrowing when he saw Kath standing there. He gave Emy one last lingering look before stepping away. In an instant, his hand clamped brutally tight around Kath’s arm, pulling her into him so his crotch brushed deliberately against her as he passed. The contact made her stomach turn.

Maudie grabbed his arm and yanked him towards her room. “This is bullshit. I’ve put up with it long enough.”