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information behind? It’s my lifeline, a key to the past, and the only evidence I have that the flask exists .
    “Hold on,” he shouted, and revved the engine.
    She tried grabbing hold of his T-shirt, but there wasn’t enough give to the material. She wrapped her arms around his waist instead, and shook her head. Those damn muscles! Can’t he find an appropriate-sized shirt, for God’s sake ? She tapped him on the shoulder to let him know he could shove off.
     
    ***
     
    Nathanael rode up to the entrance of the apartment complex and cut the engine. He parked in a shady area about forty or so spots down and across from her garden apartment. Taking off his helmet, he turned to find Callie removing hers and shaking out her flaming red hair. Boy, is she a stunner. It’s a shame I want to throttle her most of the time . He dismounted the bike.
    “Remember. Do as I say. Nothing more, nothing less.”
    “Got it, Captain.” She got off the bike, as well, and saluted him.
    “Don’t call me that. Ever. I left the military a lifetime ago.” He looked her dead in the eyes and stared her down. “I’m a bounty hunter now. That’s all.”
    She didn’t cower or back down, but met his piercing gaze with equal intensity. “Yes, sir,” she hissed. “My mistake, sir.” She challenged him in a test of wills and wouldn’t budge. Well, neither would he. He inched closer until he stood a hair’s breadth away from her face.
    “Are we really gonna stand here and have a contest to see who’s got the bigger balls? Because you’ve already lost. Save your bratty aggression for when you really need it. All right?” He backed off, put his hands on her shoulders, and turned her toward her apartment. “Now stay close and follow me.”
    She said nothing, just sneered. He grabbed her hand as they crossed the parking lot, and it spoke volumes. Cold, clammy, and trembling. She really knew how to put up a good front. He chose to ignore the fear she hid. It wouldn’t do either of them any good to expose it right now.
    Callie stepped onto the curb, and a massive explosion of sudden heat and fire thrust shards of glass, wood, and other debris into the air to rain down upon the two of them and any other innocent bystanders. The force of the blast threw them both to the ground a good ten feet from where they’d just been. Nathanael shook it off, while other people scurried about aimlessly, screaming, not knowing exactly what to do. He quickly sat up and scrambled over to Callie, a few feet away. She lay on her back, not moving, eyes closed. Pieces of building, like concrete confetti, lay all about her.
    “Callie! Can you hear me?” He pressed two fingers to the side of her neck and checked her vitals. She had a strong pulse. He did a quick examination of her body. Tiny nicks and abrasions dotted her arms, legs, and face, but her head wasn’t bleeding, nor were there any big bumps. The cuts sprinkled his arms and face as well, but they would disappear shortly. “Damn it, wake up!” He brushed away tiny bits of building from her face to reveal a paleness starkly contrasted to her violent, red hair. Her plump, rose-stained lips had parted slightly as little puffs of breath escaped. Even with the mess all around them and the scrapes she received from the blast, he thought she still looked beautiful, like an exotic fairy.
    She stirred and groaned, rubbing her head. “Oh…. Jesus.” He helped her up to a sitting position. “What happened?”
    “There was an explosion. From there.” He pointed at the fiery, gaping hole that used to be her garden apartment. “Either this was a total coincidence, or the bad guys got what they were looking for and sent you a pretty strong message.”
    “Oh, my God. My apartment,” she murmured, her eyes wide as she looked upon the devastation. All sorts of people from the complex crowded around to look at the blaze and help those who needed it. Some approached him to see if the two of them were okay.