Fiasco (Dirty Aces MC Book 6) by Lane Hart (black male authors .TXT) 📕

his son. “He’s the father of your children, and you don’t even know his real name?” I say in disbelief. Then a thought hits me. “Didn’t you put his name on the birth certificate?”

“No,” both of them say at the same time, which is odd.

“Has he ever taken a DNA test?”

That earns me two very similar glares. “Who the fuck do you think you are, showing up here and sticking your nose in our business?” Katrina asks while sweeping her hair back over her shoulder.

“Calm down, Trina,” Giselle says softly. To me, she says, “Yes, we both have had DNA tests done, but nothing was ever formalized. Court shit is expensive, and Fiasco has always been good about paying us every week.”

“Except lately,” Katrina mutters as she eyes me like it’s my fault he’s not giving her every penny he has.

“Have either of you ever been to Phillip’s apartment?”

They both shake their heads no.

“He gives everything he has to those two kids and barely keeps enough to buy himself food or pay rent. And the reason he hasn’t been earning as much lately is because he was out of work recovering from two gunshot wounds! Speaking as the nurse who saved him, he should’ve been out at least six weeks or more, but he went back to work sooner than he should have. He could have killed himself going back so early, but hey, he’s here with the money, right?”

“You’re a nurse?” Giselle asks.

“Yes,” I answer, forcing myself to calm down. Yelling at them won’t get them to like me. “I work at Masonboro General. I love children; and even though I haven’t known Phillip long, I care about him a great deal. If you would both agree, we would really like to have Asher and Sierra over to my house for a playdate one afternoon.”

“I don’t think so,” Katrina says while Giselle silently considers it.

“You could come over beforehand and inspect my place, make sure it’s kid safe. I can show you my credentials from the hospital. I’m sure you both have a ton of things to do or could just use the time alone for yourself. Think of it as a free babysitter for a few hours.”

“I’m in,” Giselle agrees with a smile. “Tell us when and where.”

“You don’t speak for me,” Katrina huffs.

“Oh, come off it, Trina. Joanna and…Phillip are just as trustworthy as the teenager you let stay with Asher while you go out on dates.”

“Can you watch him one night while I go out?” Katrina asks me.

“Of course. And maybe once you feel comfortable with them coming over to play, they could have sleepovers.”

“Girl, do you know the last morning I slept past seven?” Giselle asks, and I shake my head with an answering grin. “Before Sierra was born!”

“Asher sleeps until eight,” Katrina says. “But never a minute later.”

“Then a sleepover is something we can all hopefully look forward to in the future.”

“I don’t think Fiasco…Phillip has ever had a girlfriend before,” Giselle tells me.

“I know. That’s a shame.”

“I never expected him to end up with someone like you,” Katrina mutters, and I’m not sure if that’s an insult or a compliment. Giselle just looks at me and rolls her eyes with a smile, so I don’t think too hard about what the other woman thinks about me.

Chapter Twenty-One

Fiasco

“Thank you so much for doing this,” I tell Joanna as I wrap my arms around her, trapping her arms by her side to kiss her cheek from behind.

“It’s the least I can do,” she says. “As much money as you pay in child support, you should get to see them whenever you want.”

“Katrina and Giselle wouldn’t agree to that, but I’m happy that they are letting them come to your place and play for a few hours. I don’t think they would leave them with me if they saw my apartment.”

“How is it that neither of them know where you live or your real name?” she asks.

I let go of her arms to spin her around to face me, then place my hands on her hips to pull her closer. “Have you ever had a one-night stand?”

“No,” she responds and looks embarrassed.

“I didn’t think so. And that’s not a bad thing. I just meant that first names are about as much information as you get before you fuck someone. If Giselle and Katrina hadn’t gotten pregnant, I probably wouldn’t have seen either of them again. And nobody uses my real name except for you.”

“Not even your family?”

“Especially not my family,” I agree.

“That’s just sad.”

“I’ve gotten used to Fiasco,” I say with a shrug. “But I’m glad you call me Phillip.”

“I’ll try to break others of calling you Fiasco too.”

“You don’t have to do that, angel. They only know me as Fiasco, and that’s what I’ll always be to them.”

“Fine,” she says with a sigh. “But if it bothers you, you should tell them to stop, even if they’re your friends or family.”

“I’ll think about it,” I assure her.

“Good.” She leans in for a quick kiss and then says, “Now, I need to get Ace and his things moved to the bedroom before they get here.”

“What? Why can’t he stay in the living room? The kids will love him,” I tell her.

“Because they’re kids, and Ace is a stray. Until we know how he acts around strangers and kids, we shouldn’t let them play together.”

“He’ll be fine with them. I’ve never met a sweeter dog…” I say but realize that’s a lie. “Well, I have, but that was a long time ago.”

“The puppy your mom’s boyfriend killed?” Joanna asks, and I nod as I swallow around the knot in my throat that’s always there when I think of how I couldn’t save Rosie or her puppies.

“What he did was incredibly cruel, and I’m so sorry.”

“Me too,” I agree just as I hear a knock on the door. “They’re here!”

“Give me a hand with Ace?” Joanna asks.

I bend down and scoop him and his bed up