Jeniva felt a flicker of warmth in her chest; for the first time since the rejection. "Thank you, Dominick," she said softly. "For listening."
"Mention not," he replied, his voice losing some of its usual hardness.
The moment of peace was shattered by a violent shudder from the engine. A loud clanking echoed through the chassis, followed by a thick plume of gray smoke billowing from the edges of the bonnet. Dominick slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the asphalt as the car jolted to a halt.
"Get out! Now!" Dominick commanded.
Jeniva didn't hesitate. She scrambled out of the passenger side, her heart racing. Dominick was around the front in a second, his hand gripping her arm to pull her a safe distance away from the smoking vehicle.
"What's wrong with it?" Jeniva asked.
