Page 81 of Piston

I smile. “He’s good. The cast has been removed, but now he keeps asking for me to have dinner with him and Henry. I know this probably sounds selfish, especially because you’ve lost your father, but I just don’t want a relationship with the man.”

Perrie smiles slightly. “The situation is completely different, so I understand. That man isn’t your father, Nat, he’s a coward for how he treated you growing up, and if you don’t want a relationship with him, then you have every right to walk away from him. You’re there for your brother, so Henry should feel grateful, especially when you became non-existent to Henry after Cooper was born.” I give her a grateful smile, and she sighs. “Look, I know you're probably mad at me?—”

I cut her off, “I’m not mad at you. I know you wanted me to wake up…and payback’s a bitch.”

She chuckles, but relief shines in her eyes. “I need a favor, Nat, but I need Acid not to find out. The man won’t take the hint, andif he knows about this, he’ll push his way fully back into my life, and I can’t have that, not anymore, not after what he did….”

I furrow my brows, and she sighs, standing, before handing me the piece of paper. She paces as I read it.

My dearest Perrie,

You get prettier every day, and I count my lucky stars that I get to have you.

And Iwillhave you!

I see you hanging around with that club, and I’m telling you now that it stops.

You are mine, and if I have to, I’ll kill that fucker that keeps trying to get your attention.

Stay away from him, beautiful….

Yours always.

X

I look at her sharply, and she shakes her head. “I have a feeling who it may be, but I have no proof, and I can’t have Acid involved. If he gets involved, Nat, I’ll buy a gun, and deal with it myself.”

I flinch. “Perrie….”

She shakes her head. “No. He hurt me, Nat, and not just the shoving me away kind of hurt. I slept with him, and he went and slept with my so-called best friend a week later, the same best friend who now believes she’s pregnant with his child.”

“I’m your best friend,” I grouse, making her smile, and then sigh.

“Please, Nat, ask Piston to investigate it but keep Acid out of it. I don’t want him in my life, but I also don’t want a bullet in his head, because I can’t just shut my feelings off.”

I bite my bottom lip but nod, she sighs with relief, and walks over to me and hugs me.

I hug her back before she says, “Come to the diner tomorrow. We can have a girl’s night.”

I smile and nod despite knowing two brothers who are going to crash our dinner, but she leaves, ignoring the smile.

My eyes go to the letter again, and I know Acid is going to flip.

With a lump in my throat, I bring up my text thread, write out the small message, and hover over the SEND button for a beat before pressing it.

Me: I need your help. It’s about Perrie xx

I know she doesn’t want Acid involved, but he won’t sit back. I just hope my husband can convince him not to go in guns blazing, because she’s already cutting Acid out of her life. As much as he wants her to forgive him and give him a chance, the pain he’s put her through is just too much.

Sometimes, love just isn’t enough.

29

Piston – Two Days Later

I tap the oak table impatiently as Acid goes over Huntsmen Grub finances.

“Shane admitted to stealing from the tills after Piston found the proof we needed,” he states.