I look to Liam to confirm that. He has his head in his hands rubbing his temples which is not good news.
“What?”
“I think we should all sit down for this,” Liam says, his voice oddly gentle.
“Why?” I look between them, suddenly feeling like I’m missing something obvious. Pierce looks concerned too.
Liam presses his palms flat against the countertop like he’s steadying himself. “Ash’s full name is Ash Lynn Voss.”
The words don’t register at first. I stare at him blankly, waiting for more, for whatever revelation has Liam looking like that.
“Lynnie.” Pierce makes a sound I’ve never heard from him before, like a strangled half-curse, half-laugh. His face drains of color like he might pass out.
“Wait. What? Voss?” I repeat, the name finally sinking in. “Wasn’t that Reed’s last name?”
“She’s Reed’s little sister,” Liam confirms. His eyes never leave Pierce.
“Reed had a little sister, I remember. He texted about her once or twice. But her name wasn’t Ash, I’m pretty sure.” I say slowly.
“Lynn,” Pierce whispers, his voice cracking. “We always called her Lynn.”
I can’t fully wrap my head around this. All the new information is popping around in my brain and not settling down.
“Wait. And none of you recognized her? How is that possible?”
Liam rubs his temples like he’s the one recovering from concussion headaches.
“The last time I saw her, she was maybe twelve years old with braces and pigtails, okay? She was a skinny little kid in overalls who used to trail after us like a puppy, not a—” He cuts himself off, jaw working.
“Not a what?” I press.
“Not a grown woman. Not an omega who is so fucking gorgeous I can’t see straight.” Liam’s voice drops.
“Of fuck.” Pierce puts his back to the wall and slides all the way down. “She was there. She came running downstairs and saw Reed bleeding out on the floor and saw me running away.”
“Jesus Christ.” The implications hit me all at once. “She thinks you killed Reed.”
A heavy silence falls over the kitchen. Pierce looks wrecked. Liam looks like he might puke. We’re in great shape.
And then something else clicks into place.
“Wait,” I say, turning to Liam. “A few weeks ago, after you had sex with her. You said something about Ash maybe being in trouble.”
“Her fucking father.” Pierce starts banging his head against the wall.
“This isn’t good.” Liam’s voice is defeated.
“He’s hurting her?” When neither of them answer, I know the answer is yes.
“Well, okay, let’s go.” I clap my hands once and pad my pockets for my keys. Must have left them in the SUV.
“Beckett…” Liam starts, but I’m already heading for the door.
“We’re not leaving her there another minute,” I say, cutting him off. “Not if there’s even a chance she’s in danger.”
“Slow down,” Liam says, his voice sliding into that soothing tone he uses when he thinks Pierce is being impulsive. “We can’t just show up and drag her out of her apartment. She… We had a whole conversation last night that the scent match means that Pierce owns her, like owns her like property.”
“Don’t care.” I turn to face them both. “We are not kidnapping her or trapping her and keeping her in the basement,” I state, my voice leaving no room for argument. “You two need to get over your broke, trailer trash mentality. We have fuck-you money. I will go buy her a mansion today or put her up in a hotel suite for the rest of her life. I am not leaving the woman we love in a dangerous situation.”
