Page 55 of What They Say

“We’re gonna find her, son,” Bear said, low and fierce, right against his ear. “You hear me? We’re on this. Breathe. We need your head clear.”

Chase nodded against Bear’s shoulder, the tight band around his chest loosening just enough to let air in. Bear gave him one last squeeze, then turned and started directing traffic with calm authority, giving Chase space to think.

That’s when Chase noticed Maudie.

She had faded all the way back into the kitchen, back pressed hard against the wall like she was trying to disappear into it. Her face was pale. Eyes wide. She wasn’t yelling. She wasn’t asking questions. She looked...terrified. Not just worried about her sister—haunted.

Chase’s stomach twisted. She must have had a bad history with bikers. Really bad.

He moved towards her slowly, hands open at his sides. “Maudie...I know this looks insane. But these guys—they’re the best at this. If anyone can find Kath, it’s them. I swear.”

Maudie’s gaze flicked from him to the leather cuts filling her living room, then back. Her voice came out small. “You’re with them? Like...actually with them?”

Chase hesitated. He tried to downplay it. “It’s complicated. My dad—”

Bear caught his eye from across the room and nodded slowly. Tell her.

Chase swallowed. “Mason is the club president. I’m his son. I didn’t want any of this to touch Kath. That’s why I’ve been quiet. I was trying to keep her safe.”

Maudie’s expression shifted from fear to fury in a heartbeat.

“You brought this to my sister?” she hissed. “Your club shit put her in danger?”

She lunged at him.

Chase didn’t move. He wouldn’t hit her—not ever. But before she could reach him, one of the younger patched members—a guy named Stewart—wrapped strong arms around her from behind, lifting her feet off the floor.

“Easy, darlin’,” Stewart said, voice surprisingly gentle. “We’re here to help. Fighting each other won’t bring her back.”

Maudie struggled for a second, then went still, breathing hard.

Bear stepped closer. “Myron’s already working. Best tech guy we’ve got access to, hands down. He’s pulling tower pings from every cell in the area around the time she disappeared. We’ll have the first solid hit any minute.”

As if on cue, Bear’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then looked up.

“We’ve got movement,” he said. “Myron’s got a hit. We’re rolling.”

The Rebels moved like water—fast, coordinated, and gone in under thirty seconds. The house suddenly felt too quiet.

Chase and Maudie stood there, staring at each other across the empty living room. Her eyes were red, furious, and terrified all at once.

Then Chase whirled.

He sprinted out the front door, boots pounding down the stairs and was about to throw himself in the truck when Bear caught his eye. The older man shook his head slightly and went back to barking orders. Chase paced, impatient to get going as fear ate at him. When the others finally peeled away from Kath’s house, he moved. The engine roared to life. He didn’t even buckle up before he slammed it into gear and tore away from the curb, tires screeching.

He drove twenty over the limit the entire way to the clubhouse, heart in his throat, one single thought repeating in his head like a drumbeat.

Hold on, Kath. I’m coming.

***

Maudie

Maudie had followed Chase out and now stood on the porch, arms wrapped tightly around herself, heart hammering as the clubhouse descended on her quiet street like a storm. The roar of engines filled the air—deep, guttural, dozens of them—until the whole block seemed to tremble.

Chase was still there, pacing near his truck, face pale and drawn with barely contained panic. He kept glancing at the house like he could will Kath to appear. Maudie’s guilt twisted sharper at the sight of him. This was his world. His people. And somehow her sister had been pulled into it.

The brothers moved with terrifying efficiency. A man named Bear barked orders, another called Slate coordinated from the center of the pack, and bikes were already lumbering into motion. Then she saw Stewart—the same man who had grabbed her earlier, strong arms locking around her when she’d tried to lunge at Chase in her terror and rage. He was the last to mount up, swinging a leg over his bike with calm purpose before glancing back towards the porch.