Top Gun Guardian. Carol Ericson

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      Raven had taken off faster than one of those jets Buzz maneuvered through the sky like a paper airplane.

      The connecting door swung open, and Raven’s fingers clawed into the bedspread. She still hadn’t regained her composure after the wild escape at the U.N. But she always put up a good front.

      President Okeke opened his arms, and Malika hurled herself off the bed and against his chest. He smiled and winked at Raven over Malika’s head. “Are you happy here with Miss Pierre?”

      “Yes, she gave me soda pop and fixed my hair.” Malika twirled one finger around her pigtail.

      Raven had bounded off the bed and stuffed her feet into her heels when the president had entered the room with Buzz lounging against the doorjamb behind him. Her cheeks heated and she spoke in the president’s dialect to restore her dignity. “I hope the soda is not a problem, Mr. President.”

      He waved his hands. “A small treat for a difficult morning, and please speak English. We do not want to be rude to our friend Mr. Richardson.”

      Friend? Raven narrowed her eyes, giving Buzz a sidelong glance. He sure had gotten chummy with the president in a short space of time. Leave it to Buzz. He could charm just about anyone into anything.

      She should know.

      “Are you finished in there? Have they found a safe place for you and your daughter?” Not that Raven wanted to dump Malika. The girl had grown on her…a little. But she did have a life and a fabulous apartment on the Upper East Side and even a date for dinner.

      Her gaze wandered across Buzz’s wide shoulders and broad chest. Her date didn’t have a fraction of Buzz’s mouthwatering physical attributes. But he had something Buzz lacked—a big-city, superficial nonchalance that suited Raven just fine.

      President Okeke shifted his gaze to Buzz and then back to her. “We’re not quite finished. We have a few more details to arrange.”

      Buzz stepped to the side as the door behind him nudged open. A suit stuck his head into the room. “Everything fine with your daughter, President Okeke? We’ll have the two of you out of this hotel and installed in a secure location in no time at all.”

      The president nodded and crouched next to Malika. He whispered something in her ear in their own language, and Raven caught just one word—safe.

      The Secret Service agent ushered President Okeke back into the conference room and held the door open for Buzz. “Are you joining us?”

      The agent’s clipped tone made it clear he didn’t think Buzz warranted a place at the table with the Secretary of State and the other high-level security representatives.

      Buzz shrugged. “You don’t really need me in there. I’ll hang out here and watch—” he cocked his head at the TV “—the sponge.”

      The agent smirked and snapped the door shut.

      Buzz pressed his ear against the door for several seconds and then locked the deadbolt with a soft click. He pointed to the minibar fridge. “Can I have one of those five-dollar sodas?”

      Raven frowned at the door. Did Buzz think they were in danger from anyone in that room? Not likely.

      Tapping Malika on the head as she walked by, Raven said, “We’ve pretty much decimated the colas. Do you want a root beer?”

      “Sure. Give me a root beer for the road.”

      Raven swiveled her head around. “For the road? Where are you going? I thought you’d want to see this thing through.”

      “Not just me.” Buzz took two large steps to the minibar and snatched the can from Raven’s slack hand. “We’re all going.”

      “Yeah, well, once the suits in the other room find a secure location for President Okeke and Malika—” Raven slammed the door to the little fridge and pushed up to her feet “—we’ll all be going. And we’d better hurry because I have a hot date.”

      Buzz raised one brow and snapped the lid on his can. “We’re not waiting for them. We’re headed for that secure location right now, the three of us.”

      Biting her lip, Raven shot a glance at the locked door again. “I-is that the plan? We’re going there first and then the president will follow us?”

      Buzz dipped his head once and chucked Malika under the chin.

      Malika had already slipped into her shoes and had grabbed her doll from the bed. She didn’t seem surprised or alarmed at the news that they were leaving the hotel ahead of her father.

      Raven rubbed out the furrow between her eyebrows. But why did she have to come along? “Buzz, are you sure I’m included in this plan?”

      “Don’t you want to help Malika?” His brows shot up to his hairline. “You’re about the only one she trusts right now. Isn’t that right, darlin’?”

      Malika pinned Raven with her big brown eyes and nodded.

      Raven sucked in a breath and then blew it out, rolling back her shoulders. She was not going to allow Buzz Richardson to accuse her of disliking little children…again.

      She checked her Rolex. She could still meet her date on time. How long could it take to stash Malika and a few bodyguards in some safehouse?

      Rubbing Malika’s back, Raven said, “Of course I want to help Malika. We’re a team—at least until her father takes over.”

      “I knew I could count on your love of children to propel you in the right direction.” Buzz grabbed her handbag from the credenza and shoved it against her chest. “Let’s go.”

      “Shouldn’t we let them know we’re on our way?” She jerked her thumb toward the room next door.

      “They’re busy.” Buzz inched open the door to the suite and exchanged a few words with the Burumandan guard stationed there.

      The man trailed them down the hallway to the stairwell, and then followed them down four flights of stairs. When they burst through the final fire door, Buzz guided them away from the lobby and toward a side door. The door landed them in the middle of the busy kitchen, where they darted through a maze of counters, refrigerators and vats of churning food.

      When they hit the back door of the kitchen, their escort melted away and another intercepted them as they entered an alley on the side of the hotel. Their guard hustled them into a Lincoln Town Car with tinted windows.

      Despite the blacked-out windows, Buzz told Raven and Malika to slouch in their seats. Raven swallowed her complaints when she noticed Malika’s swift compliance. The girl had experience in this sort of subterfuge.

      The car shot out of the alley and Raven whispered to Buzz. “I’m glad this guy has diplomatic immunity or they’d throw the book at him for reckless driving.” The car squealed around the first corner. “And speeding.”

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