Raven's Prey

Mexico. When he’d spoken to her there had been that familiar, cool tone in his words. But quite abruptly she realized that there was something new and brilliantly dangerous in his dark gaze.
    Judd Raven was barely in control of himself tonight. A dark, savage flame of fury burned in him and she was the focus of it.
    Honor backed away another step, other small bits of evidence forcing themselves on her attention. She saw the way his knuckles were almost white as he gripped the glass of tonic water. The brackets at the edges of his mouth were taut lines of menace. Thee was an unfamiliar rigidity in his lean, coordinated frame, as if the force of his anger were an electrical charge.
    Desperately she licked her lips, trying to regain her composure. “Don’t be ridiculous, Judd. I’m not going anywhere with you. This isn’t Mexico. I don’t have to go anywhere with you again!”
    “You’re coming with me tonight, Honor.”
    “No! Never!”
    “If you involve your friend in the three-piece suit I’ll probably wind up having to hurt him badly. Think about that when you go back to his table.”
    “You can’t do this and you know it!” she hissed.
    “Watch me!”
    “Judd! Stop this! You know damn good and well you can’t threaten me now.”
    “I’m not threatening you. I’m here to collect what’s mine. Very simple.”
    “I don’t belong to you,” she breathed.
    “I saved your life.”
    “That doesn’t give you any right! And besides, I didn’t particularly approve of the way you went about it, remember?” she grated fiercely.
    “You didn’t understand at the time. I’m going to try and make everything very clear to you this time around. Are you coming with me now or is it going to be like it was in Mexico? Are we going to have to do it the hard way?”
    She gasped. “You arrogant bastard! Go to hell, Judd Raven! I’m not going anywhere with you ever again!” Spinning around on her heel Honor fled back through the crowd to where Steve Melbourne waited
    “Honor? Are you okay? You look upset….” Steve climbed to his feet, an anxious expression on his handsome features.
    “Take me home, please, Steve. I’ve just had a very upsetting conversation with my acquaintance. I really would like to go home.”
    “Well, sure, if that’s what you want. Should I say something to your friend? He had no right to upset you like this.” Steve frowned, collecting Honor’s purple shawl and taking her arm to guide her toward the door.
    “No, no, it’s nothing.” Belatedly she remembered Judd’s warning. “It was just some news about a mutual friend of ours that upset me.” She mustn’t involve Steve. She didn’t want to bear the guilt for putting him in Judd’s path.
    She didn’t dare glance in Judd’s direction as Steve escorted her out of the lounge but she could feel the eyes of the raven on her as she walked out the door. Where could she go? A wave of hysteria welled up inside her as Steve drove her back to her apartment That was the same question she’d asked herself the night she had fled Hong Kong. Which way lay safety?
    Over and over again she tried to tell herself that this-time there was no need to run, but no amount of rationalization could make her forget the dark fury burning in Judd’s eyes that night.
    She’d seen him frustrated, even annoyed and angry, but never had she seen this kind of blazing rage. He was the hunter who’d had his prey snatched from his grasp. Nothing would satisfy him but to regain possession of it.
    Perhaps she could contact Craig Maddock? Did the government man have any real control over Raven? Honor wasn’t at all sure that he did. Judd was a law unto himself. Maddock had implied as much when he’d warned Judd that he was coming close to the edge. Surely terrorizing her was taking a step over the line? But what could Maddock do about it? What could anyone do about Judd Raven once he’d decided on his target.
    “Good night, Steve,” she said as the car drew up in front of her building. “I’m really sorry to have to end the evening so abruptly. Perhaps some other time?”
    “I’ll walk you to the door,” Steve began, only to have Honor wave him aside.
    “No, that’s fine. I’ve got my key ready. Don’t worry about hanging around. Please. I’ll see you soon. Good night,” she said again and practically leaped from the car.
    Steve Melbourne’s car pulled reluctantly back out into the street just as she turned the key in her lock, and