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smiling at Mia’s mother-hen protectiveness. What was it that caused everyone around her to feel she needed to be taken care of?
     
    She headed for her car, then stopped dead. She had a prickling feeling on the back of her neck. Her heart started to race. She opened her purse and fumbled for her keys, trying to appear calm. She knew someone was watching her. She hoped it was just her imagination telling her that she was in danger.
     
    She palmed her keys, poking one through her fingers like a little dagger.
     
    Yah, like that’s going to do any good. I’d be on the ground before I could get it anywhere near an attacker’s eyes.
     
    Aja swallowed and walked a little faster, trying not to look like she was hurrying. Her car was just ahead. She rushed to it, scrambling to push her key in the lock and cursing herself for not letting her father buy her a new car with keyless entry when he’d offered earlier that year. The lock clicked open and she nearly tore the door off its hinges.
     
    When she was safely inside, she locked the door and took a deep breath. She let out a relieved giggle, cursing herself for being so stupid. She reached for her seat belt and let out a shriek when a face appeared in her rearview mirror.
     
    “Don’t move,” he said, his voice deep and menacing.
     
    She froze, complying with an alacrity she despised.
     
    “Put your hands on the steering wheel, but move slowly. Any quick movements and you’re dead.”
     
    Aja lifted her hands off her lap and placed them on the steering wheel as her mind flew in all directions. She had no idea who this man was. She hoped he only wanted to rob her. How he got into her locked car was a mystery. She wanted to live long enough for her father to say, “I told you to get a new car.”
     
    “What do you want?” she whispered, fear constricting her throat so that her voice came out in a harsh croak.
     
    “No speaking,” he shouted.
     
    Aja jumped. Sweat broke out all over her body. She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting him to strike her.
     
    “Start the car and drive slow. I’ll give you directions. Do anything stupid and I’ll shoot you in the back.”
     
    Aja didn’t know if she would be able to drive at all. She considered trying to roll out of the car before he had time to shoot. Stupid risk , she thought and reached for the ignition.
     
    “Slowly,” came the warning again.
     
    Aja shuddered, fear chasing icy paths up and down her spine. Her skin crawled with the anticipation of a bullet in the back.
     
    Aja hesitated when she put the car into reverse, not wanting to turn and meet his eyes.
     
    He seemed to understand because he said, “Just back up until I say stop.”
     
    She backed the car up with her eyes closed and stopped when he told her to. She pulled out of the parking lot and wondered if she would ever see Mia again. Aja hoped her friend wouldn’t think she’d left for Italy without saying goodbye. She would tell Aja’s family where she’d gone and they wouldn’t think to search for her. A lump formed in her throat and she fought rising hysteria. The silence from the man behind her just made it worse. If he’d threatened her and screamed, been violent, it would’ve been easier to deal with than his silence. It was somehow more threatening. Aja suddenly knew why. Because he seemed like a professional. At that thought, Aja felt her stomach heave. I’m going to die.
     
    “Turn left,” the voice commanded.  
     
    She followed his directions and soon realized he was taking her to an industrial area. Her fears were confirmed. Aja’s mind raced with ideas of escape, of heroism - all things she’d seen in movies. She rejected every one of them as being too risky. Her phone was in her purse on the seat beside her, but there was no way to reach for it without him seeing. She couldn’t flash her lights or signal anyone. Her old car wasn’t equipped with GPS so they wouldn’t be able to find her when she didn’t come