Top Gun Guardian. Carol Ericson

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СКАЧАТЬ was probably for the best. How could she possibly concentrate on another man when she’d just spent an adrenaline-fueled day with Buzz? His larger-than-life presence eclipsed everyone. It just wasn’t fair he had to come traipsing back into her life, reminding her of what she’d thrown away.

      Malika had conked out and slumped to the side, resting her head against Raven’s arm. A little drool had trickled from the corner of Malika’s mouth onto the sleeve of Raven’s suit. Raven rummaged through her bag for a tissue and dabbed the girl’s lips.

      Raven met Buzz’s eyes above Malika’s head. “What? She’s drooling on my new suit.”

      “She really likes you.” He spread his hands in front of him as if he couldn’t believe it.

      “Yeah, well, I saved her life back there at the U.N. What would you expect?”

      He lifted one shoulder. “I would expect her to like you. Kids do.”

      “You’re crazy. I was never around them enough for you to gauge that.”

      “There was Eric and Grace’s boy.”

      Raven gave an exaggerated shiver. “You mean that horrid little monster who ran around putting tadpoles on everyone’s lap?”

      Buzz laughed and the sound filled the backseat of the Town Car, coaxing a grin from Raven. “Except yours.”

      “That’s because I warned him if he came anywhere near me with a tadpole, I’d take the critter and flush him down the toilet.”

      “And he fell in love with you on the spot. Followed you around for the rest of the party…without his tadpoles.”

      “Ha! He probably just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t get my hands on any of his creatures and flush ’em.” Raven pressed her warm forehead against the cool window. “Where is this place?”

      “We’re almost there.”

      Several minutes later, the car exited the highway and pulled into a small parking lot next to a low-slung gray building.

      Raven tapped the window. “This is a secure location? It looks like, it looks like…an airplane hangar.”

      The car jerked to a stop and Buzz threw open the door.

      Raven clawed at the door handle, her heart pounding. Buzz. Airplanes. The two went together like…little boys and tadpoles. “Buzz! Buzz!”

      She clambered out of the car. “What are we doing here?”

      He dipped back into the car on the other side, and Raven ducked her head inside, too. Did he think he could avoid her that easily? They nearly banged foreheads over Malika’s sleepy form.

      Raven hissed. “What are you doing?”

      He tucked his arms beneath Malika and slid her across the seat toward him. “I’m kidnapping President Okeke’s daughter. And you’re coming with me.”

       Chapter Three

      “Bryan!”

      Buzz grinned. Raven must be really mad to use his real name instead of his nickname. He had to play this right because he needed Raven for the plan to work.

      He waved to the mechanic he’d called earlier. “Did you do the pre-flight? Everything ready to go?”

      “You’re good to go, boss.” The mechanic flashed him a thumbs-up.

      Clutching a drowsy Malika to his chest, Buzz strode across the tarmac to his Jetstream. Two steps up and he felt a tug at his shirt. He suppressed a grin and twisted his head over his shoulder.

      Raven’s dark eyes sparkled, practically shooting sparks. “Where are you taking Malika and why?”

      “I’m taking her to safety.”

      “Are you crazy? You’ll have the entire CIA, FBI and probably the U.S. Military after you, not to mention some of those huge Burumandan security guys.”

      He pointed to Naru, the Burumandan driver waving on the tarmac. “You mean like him? I’m not as crazy as I look, Raven. I have President Okeke’s permission to take Malika. We’d already discussed and planned it.”

      Her black, sculpted eyebrows collided over her nose. “But why? I thought that’s what you were all figuring out in the conference room. Are you telling me President Okeke doesn’t trust the United States government?”

      “He trusts me more. And you.”

      “Me?” Raven ran a hand through her silky hair, the color of velvet midnight. “I just met the guy.”

      “You saved his daughter’s life.” Malika stirred in his arms, rubbing the back of her hand across her nose. “We can’t waste any more time out here. I have to get her in the plane and get going.”

      Raven took a step down, one heel digging into the asphalt of the tarmac. “I can’t come with you.”

      “President Okeke specifically requested that you accompany us. He wanted to ask you himself at the hotel, but the Secret Service agent interrupted him.”

      Buzz held his breath. Raven lived and breathed her career, and Buzz could imagine how she felt being relegated to babysitting duty. Now through a set of crazy circumstances, the new president of Burumanda needed her help. Buzz would have to keep pounding on that to convince her to come along.

      “The president believes his daughter’s safety rests with you. He never would’ve hatched this plan if not for his confidence in you, Raven.”

      She shook her head and pursed her lips. “I can’t rush off and leave everything, especially for some cockamamie scheme of yours. If you’re involved, trouble is not far behind. How do I even know you have President Okeke’s permission to take Malika?”

      “And why would I want to kidnap the president’s daughter?” Of course, he didn’t have to tell Raven about the link between the assassination attempt on President Okeke and Jack Coburn’s disappearance. That wouldn’t convince her of anything except his insanity.

      Raven’s right foot joined her left foot firmly on the ground. “I can’t do it, Buzz. You’re on your own.”

      Buzz clenched his jaw. That’s not the first time she’d said those words to him.

      Malika squirmed in his arms, lifting her head from his shoulder. “Raven?”

      “You’re going to be fine, Malika.” Raven flashed a fake smile. “Your father asked Mr. Richardson to take you someplace safe.”

      “I know. You are coming, Raven?”

      Raven’s shoulders slumped. “No. I can’t come with you, Malika, but you’ll be safe with Mr. Richardson.”

      A tremble rolled through Malika’s small frame and she choked on a sob. “Please, Raven.”

      “I’m sorry. I—I just СКАЧАТЬ