“Good,” I said smiling, knowing I was about to upset his apple cart once more. “Because come Monday, you will be starting school at MDF high.”
“What?”
“What?” Logan frowned and I continued.
“We’d discussed it, remember.” We both came to the conclusion he would fall too far behind if we didn’t get him into school soon. But I had gone ahead and actually done it since Logan had a few double shifts that week.
“I didn’t think we’d made a decision yet.”
Dom frowned at me but I carried on. “I have requested a more experienced resource officer at the school and there will also be someone from Salinger on the school property at all times. But Dom, you have a near perfect grade point average, you cannot afford any more time off school if you want to maintain it.”
Father and son both looked ready to argue with me. I could see them forming the thoughts in their mind. They were so much alike it was really creepy. And then I could see they both accepted what I was saying was the truth.
Logan nodded. “You're a smart kid, so it won’t be difficult to catch up on the few weeks you’ve missed.” He turned to me, concern lacing his features. “What do we do about his transcripts? Won’t it be dangerous to get his records from his school in San Francisco?”
I tilted my head to the side. “As you said, I am good at my job. I’ll be enrolling him under a false name and his records will not be linked to his previous school.”
I had already spoken to Nick about it. Between Jared and Tex, they hacked what they needed to and made sure there was no trace of Dom Bayers in any system. All that remained waschanging his name and hoping no one double-checked. I didn’t want to inform the school yet. I wasn’t sure what gang was involved in San Francisco and if they had connections as far south as San Diego or Marina De Ferrier.
Before I could explain anything further the buzzer sounded and security let us know Cassie was down stairs. She would be babysitting the little ones while Dom went to Salinger Security and Logan and I did whatever Logan had planned.
Cassie had her nine-month-old baby with her as well. Little Daisy was still asleep but like me, Cassie was determined all three children would fit easily into our lives and have cousins and friends and spoiling aunts and uncles and good role models all around.
Victoria was also asleep but Landon, who had been playing with the building blocks on the floor, eyed the newcomer to the apartment. His lip quivered as I kissed him goodbye. I was about to tell Logan we should stay when Cassie held up her hand to me.
“No. I’ve seen our niece and nephews pull this crap. He will be fine.”
I looked at Logan and then back at Cassie. She was right. I babysat for my brothers often enough to know that toddlers crying after their parents left only lasted a few minutes. “If he is still crying in half an hour, call us and we'll come back. We won’t be gone for too long.”
Cassie shooed all three of us out of the apartment and within twenty minutes we were pulling up at the Salinger Security building. I took Dom through the property, showing him around all the buildings. We arrived at the training and tactical building on the other side of the property only a short while later. Besides several obstacle courses, we also had shooting ranges for both rifle and pistol training, two gyms with several rings for sparring and hand-to-hand combat training. We also had simulation courses which used lasers and a paintball course. When mybrothers opened the doors four years earlier, there were only two gun ranges and one simulation course with a small weight training gym. I was proud of how much we had grown in such a small space of time. Even though I had joined later than everyone else, I always knew I would end up working for the family business.
I was about to turn into the LazerGames simulation course, when I received a text from Nick.
Nick:We’re not doing the LazerGames course. Bring him over to the PaintBall room.”
He called it a room but honestly, the course was about the size of two square blocks.
“Change of plan kiddo. Looks like you'll be playing PaintBall.”
Although our courses were all Nick’s designs, with some help from Ollie, everyone knew the general concept. I had no doubt Dom was familiar with it all.
“What all do you guys do here?”
I smiled, knowing his curiosity was peaked. “Stick around, kid. You’ll get to experience it all, if Nick has his way.”
It was true. Nick wanted all the kids in our circle to be trained in self-defense and survival training. The simulation courses were supposed to give those who wanted to go into the military or law enforcement, a leg up. But mostly the kids had fun.
“That’s your oldest brother, right? The one who called Logan down to the parking lot so he could yell at him.”
“Yeah, you’ll meet him now.” I figured I might as well be honest with him. “He’s not happy I kept you from him all these years.”
“Why did you, though?”
I shook my head and smiled. “That’s a long story for another day.”
“And you have a date to go on.” Dom sighed as he spoke, like it was so lame that two adults wanted to go on a date.
Another several minutes later and we walked into the PaintBall course. Nick, the monitor for the day, stood with a bunch of teenagers surrounding him. He held out his hand to Dom. “I’m Nick, or Uncle Nick. You decide. I’m glad you’re here. The boys are a man short, so you’re going to fit right in.”
