35 Immortal Creature

- DOMINIK -

The closest town to the house is unlikely to be one Vanessa is familiar with. The sheltered life of a mafia princess is unlikely to lead her all the way out here, but I'm not taking any chances. Instead, I drive further inland and north. I'm making this up as we go, because I didn't anticipate taking her out of the house at all. 

"Are we really that far from civilization? It's been like an hour." 

She's been quiet for most of the way, so this grumbling amuses me—especially since we haven't been gone for an hour. Maybe half that. But these are the moments when a little bit of her bratty behavior comes out and I get a peek at her unguarded and more at ease. It's more her. 

It's almost easy to imagine that this is just any other trip—me and her riding around for a different reason. Maybe even as two regular people and not descendants of rival criminal organizations.