Page 44 of Piston

Sighing, I stand, gaining the man’s attention.

I have never wanted to hit someone as much as I do this man, which is saying something, considering who my father is, and Acid, being my blood brother, reads me instantly.

“He’s your father-in-law; you can’t hit him.”

I grunt with displeasure and admit to the man, “With what my wife has told me, you’re not my favorite person.”

He eyes me up and says, “And you’re not mine,” before walking over to me.

He holds his hand out and says, “Henry.”

I eye it until Acid nudges me, and I begrudgingly take his hand, and shake it firmly.

“Piston.”

He eyes me back. “I’m guessing that’s not your legal name.”

I shake my head. "It isn’t, but only my wife gets to use my legal name.”

Not that I’ve allowed her to, but I think that needs to change. Her calling me Piston these past five years just sounds fucking wrong.

He nods, crossing his arms over his chest. “How long have you known my daughter? Because, I’ve got to tell you, I had no idea you existed, and I didn’t believe Christy when she said Natalie had married, and to a man in an MC, no less.”

I hum and ask, “Did your wife tell you that before or after admitting to threatening your daughter with bodily harm if she didn’t stay away from her brother?” His eyes widen. “I’m guessing she left that part out.”

His jaw ticks, and I sigh. “I have known your daughter since college.” His mouth parts, and I give him a small smile. “We were dating, I guess.” Acid snorts, but I ignore him. “We were together three years before I graduated. We got married in a small ceremony two years, well, nearly three years ago now.”

Fuck, it's three years next month….

I swallow hard, realizing we haven’t celebrated once.

“Three years married? Seriously?” he asks in shock.

I shrug, saying, “I’m sorry, but with what I’ve been told, you don’t have a right to be upset about this, and after what I witnessed last week, and how your wife threatened to seduce me to hurt your daughter, you didn’t have a right to be at our wedding.”

His eyes widen, his arms dropping at his sides. “What the…? What do you mean she threatened to seduce you?”

I wince. “Your wife seemed to think I’d cheat on Nat with her because Nat’s ex-boyfriend did.” Henry looks at me, speechless, and I decide to tell him the truth, for him to understand what his daughter has been going through, what he’s turned a blind eye to. “Man, your wife was screwing your daughter's high school boyfriend for months. Nat caught them on the day she left for college, and even recorded them. Nat used the recording to keep your wife from contacting her, then used it to ensure she didn’t hit Cooper again.”

“I-I, what…” he stutters in shock.

I frown. “How much do you know of what your wife did to mine, Henry?”

He swallows, anger and pain wavering off him as he admits, “I know she disciplined her.”

I nod. “By locking her in the small cupboard in the pantry.” He blinks, his face paling at my admission, and I continue, “By smacking her across the face, and starving her….”

“No, she wouldn’t…. I would have known she—” he tries to defend, but I cut him off.

“If that wasn’t the case, then explain why Natalie wanted nothing to do with her. You spent her childhood choosing your wife over her. School plays, graduations, moving to college, heck, even allowing her to spend time with Cooper before last year, and that was only because your wife wanted a break. You have put your wife first, so how would you know how Natalie was treated?” I state calmly despite my anger. I can feel Acid vibrating next to me, having not know the extent of Natalie’s upbringing, which is similar to ours.

Neglected and abused.

I shake my head and grab the paperwork before looking back at a frozen Henry.

“I’m sorry, man, but you’ll be lucky if Natalie even considers having a relationship with you, and I won’t sway her either way, because I know what it's like to have parents who don’t care.”

I give Acid a nod, then look over to Cooper, “Come on, kid, let's go make Sissy some dinner. Your dad will pick you up later.”

---