“You really don’t fuck around with your technology, do you?” Kane asks.
Xavier shakes his head, his expression serious. “Indeed not, Mr. Sutherland. It is not enough to further the accomplishments of mankind—one must leave the earth better than one found it. Since I have already divulged more than I should, I may as well divulge more. One of the projects Rin—that is, Corinna Roth—and I have been discussing is a spatial cleanup. Eliminating old satellites from the orbital area. With her father’s efforts in zero-footprint manufacturing and design, we are committed as well to using those technologies as much as possible as to move forward. Everything will use recycled materials where possible, and zero emissions. To that end, we are also working on a vertical integration model, where we design and build the manufacturing facilities ourselves rather than relying on previously existing plants. The plants which build the parts we need will use carbon recapture, alternative fuel sources, and be built entirely from recycled, sustainable, and green sources.”
Kane just shakes his head. “Fuckin’ impressive.”
Xavier smirks. “You will get along rather famously with Baxter, I do believe.”
Kane arches an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”
Xavier shakes his head. “You are just very similar. You will find out when you meet him, shortly.”
Harlow grins. “He’s not wrong. You and Baxter are quite similar.”
14The Sharing Circle
Kane
Lunch turns out to be a rooftop restaurant, glassed-in with a magnificent view of the city. The table reservation turns out to be the entire restaurant being closed down, with a single server in attendance. When the four of us arrive, there’s a couple already seated. The woman is gorgeous, with black hair bound back in a fancy braid and bright green eyes. The man is huge, densely muscled, yet without any extra bulk. He’d give me a run for my money in terms of sheer size and power, with brown hair, short and messy, and dark eyes.
We approach the table and they both stand.
Harlow manages the introductions. “Kane Sutherland, Anjalee Sharma, meet Baxter and Eva Badd.”
Baxter and Eva each shake our hands, and we exchange the usual pleasantries before sitting.
A server brings us sweating glasses of ice water; Xavier, Harlow, Baxter, and Eva each order alcohol, beer for the men and wine for the women. I order iced tea and Anjalee echoes my order.
Baxter eyes me. “You look familiar.”
I shrug. “Don’t think we’ve met.” I know I’ve never met this guy, so it’s the truth.
Baxter rests huge forearms on the table. “No, I know I’ve seen you somewhere.” He snaps. “Hold up, I got it. You ever fight? Underground?”
I shake my head. “No. My buddy Rev used to, though. He and I both work for a club called Sin, here in Vegas.” I leave it at that, because the fights aren’t exactly legal, and I’m not about to go advertising that to some dude I just met.
He nods. “That’s it. Rev, he’s a huge fucker, right? Brown dude, mohawk. Fuckin’ killer in the cage, yeah?”
I grin. “That’s my boy.”
“I’m an MMA trainer, got a gym up in Ketchikan, Alaska. I trained a guy who did some work in the underground scene, and he booked a couple fights down in Fisticuffs. He didn’t fight Rev, though, we just watched his match before ours. Your boy fuckin’ demolished his opponent in fuckin’ seconds.” Baxter points at me. “You were security for the fight.”
I nod. “I tend to be on the door on nights there’s a big-draw fight. Who was your fighter?”
“Marco Salazar.”
I grin. “I remember him. Quick hands, hell of a roundhouse kick.”
“That’s him. He’s in the UFC now.” He taps the table idly. “Matter of fact, I’m actually in Vegas because my client has a fight in Fisticuffs tonight.”
“We’re headed there after this,” I say. “I’ve been away on personal leave. Guess we’ll see you again tonight, huh?”
Baxter shrugs. “You’ll see me, at least. Eva ain’t a big fan of the fights, and no way in fuck I’d bring her to Fisticuffs. She was plannin’ on staying at the hotel.” He smiles at his wife, squeezing her shoulder with casual affection.
“I could get her a private section up in the club,” I tell him. “I’m sure Anj wouldn’t mind hangin’ with her.” I glance at Anjalee. “Would you, babe?”
She smiles at me. “Certainly not. It would be fun. Although I do not drink alcohol, so I am afraid I may not be a very exciting party companion.”
Eva’s answering smile is elegant and sweet. “I’m not much of a drinker, either, and I would welcome the company. I wasn’t relishing the notion of a night in the hotel room alone, to be frank, but my husband is right—I really do not like attending the fights. I find it all rather barbaric, but my husband is one of the best and most in-demand MMA trainers anywhere, and I’m very proud of him.” She smiles at him. “He was a fighter himself, years ago. A quite good one, too.”
