Page 136 of Colt

“Home hub controls your security, lights, music, locks, even your stove and laundry facilities,” I explained. “Everything’s controlled by either your phones, a remote control in each room or it’s voice activated. We’re sparing no expense. These houses are environmentally friendly buildings for the future. We can upgrade the technology as we go along. There’ll be nothing else like ‘em.”

Prez puffed his chest out. “Fuck yeah. Can you go through it all with me? You know I’m as technologically minded as a gnat.”

I grinned. “Of course. Though you shouldn’t have a problem, it’s pretty straightforward.”

Prez nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, and Kai can help me with it all too. He’s good at all that computer shit.”

“You’ll be fine,” I assured him.

“Kitten’s already got everythin’ on order,” Breaker interjected. “The furnishings have cost more than the fuckin’ build.”

Cash barked a laugh. “You can afford it. I’ve had to play the stock market for the last ten days to afford everythin’ Cara wants. She’s rinsed my bank account.”

“You’ve got savings haven’t ya?” Prez asked. “You’re a rich little cunt.”

“Don’t tell Cara that, she’ll start spendin’ again,” Cash muttered. “Gotta start savin’ for Wilder’s college.”

“He’s three months fuckin’ old,” Atlas said incredulously. “You got plenty’a time for all that malarky.” He shook his head. “Sayin’ that you may have a point. Maybe I should start savin’ for Zeus’s college every month for his college fund.”

Prez’s mouth twisted. “Who the fuck’s Zeus?”

“My boy,” Atlas replied defensively.

“Sounds like a fuckin’ porn star name.” Abe chuckled. “And what if you’re havin’ a girl?”

Atlas shrugged. “My Stitch chooses the girls’ names. I choose the boys’.”

“Fuck me,” Bowie muttered. “Zeus Woods. Poor little lad’s gonna be fucked with a name like that.”

“Zeus is king of the Gods,” the SAA said, tone menacing. “Nothin’ wrong with settin’ a fuckin’ precedence. And you’re a fine one to talk. What kinda name’s Willow? Poor baby’s named after a tree and the ginger witch in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

Silence fell over the room briefly before Breaker asked, “You watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer?”

Atlas jerked a nod. “Yip. But that’s as geek as I go, except for the Star Trek movies with the Borg in ‘em, and the new ones with Chris Pine. Oh, and the first three Star Wars.”

“Why just the first three?” Abe asked, confusion lacing his tone.”

“’Cause they’re men’s movies,” Atlas told him. “Lots’a shooting and shit. The others are too girlie.”

My lips twitched.

Cash sat forward to address Atlas. “I wanna know about Buffy. When did you start watchin’ a TV show about a schoolgirl who slays vampires?”

Atlas cocked an eyebrow. “It’s a bit more than that, Cashy boy. I mean, Buffy was the chosen one and Sunnydale sat on the Hellmouth. They had Big Bads comin’ outta their assholes in that show. And Buffy was a tough little bitch. She had some good moves.” His eyes glazed over. “Reminds me of my Stitch. She could’a been the Slayer, the Chosen One. Have you seen her roundhouse kicks?”

The corner of my mouth hitched. “Stitch would’ve kicked her ass,” I assured him.

“Buffy was hot,” Bowie mused.

“Not as hot as Faith,” Breaker muttered.

“Now see that’s a fuckin’ disgrace,” Atlas rasped. “Faith worked for the evil mayor who turned into a big snake. She was a killer, and alright, I know she came good in the end, but before that she cast a spell and took over Buffy’s body and fucked Riley.”

I brought a hand up to cover my smile.

Prez turned his stare on Abe and demanded, “Are you hearin’ this?”

The secretary shrugged. “I gave up with ‘em a long time ago.”

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