Heroes In Uniform (101 page)

“I promise to get better with the Italian,” he whispered, as if it was important.

“I like your Italian, because it’s the way you say it. Only you say it that way. And I love it.”

“I like it when we speak Italian or English, or—” he peeled down the top of her dress to tease her nipple with his teeth, making her jump. “And when we don’t speak at all.” He sucked at her nipple and then followed it with a knowing smile. Did he know that every time he kissed her there it made her little peach quiver? Did he know that the place under her ear he liked to kiss was so delicately, urgently sensitive he could make love to her anywhere, anyhow if he just touched her there?

On any other night, they might have fallen asleep with happy dreams, but not tonight. She felt him stiffen as reality caught hold of him and, after several deep sighs, he sat up, bringing her with him, holding her to his chest with both arms wrapped around her. He settled one hand at the base of her spine as he rubbed the back of her neck, fingers massaging her scalp.

“I can’t stay, but I think you’d be safer here.”

She leaned back to examine his face. “What?”

“I’d feel better if you stayed here until it’s all over.”

“How realistic is that, Mark? I can’t just abandon my job. I work for the cruise line. I’m supposed to protect the passengers in an emergency. You’re actually asking I abandon my responsibilities?”

Mark nodded. “You’re right, of course, just be careful. You are the only one, other than some of the ship’s officers, who know about this place. If Teseo gives you things to bring here, please do it carefully, and watch your back.”

She squeezed into his chest again, wishing it were not time to go, and hoping it wouldn’t be the last time they were together.

“You be safe, too. You don’t have to do anything heroic on my behalf. I’ll be fine. We have procedures we follow. I’m sure the captain has contacted Miami and plans are in place.”

She saw the faint smile on his face, indicating there was something up with that comment, but she let it go.

They heard the metal door to Deck 5 open and a discussion as two people who walked by. Mark and Sophia remained hidden beneath the window until the footsteps passed.

As they were getting dressed in the moonlight that bathed the interior of the boat in a surreal silvery light, they heard the faint whir of something mechanical.

Mark looked up as if he could see through the many layers of the ship.

“What is it?” she asked him.

“Helicopter.”

Her blood froze.

Cruisin’ for a Seal: Chapter Twenty-Seven

M
ark heard the
automatic gunfire before he could get halfway down the hallway to his cabin. He’d texted Kyle about the equipment in the boat, and contacted Fredo, who was standing guard over their women. He stopped briefly to see if he could hear anything at Helena’s door, but could not.

Jones opened the door to their suite before he got his hand on the key card.

“Kyle’s on his way,” Mark informed him.

They heard screaming and more gunfire through the opened doors of their balcony. Sanouk sleepily walked into the room in his pajamas.

“Get your clothes on, dude. There’s a firefight outside and we need you to stay with the women,” Mark told him.

“You know what the plan is?” Jones asked Mark.

“Kyle’s call, but some have to stay behind, some have to go underground. We got a couple of rebreathers, some ammo and gear in Lifeboat 26. Remember that one. On Deck 5, outside the chapel. You can make it to the kitchen from the end of the hallway. From there, you’re on your own.”

“Got my sidearm. Wish I had my H&K.”

“You and me both.”

“Moshe?”

“Haven’t heard.”

Just then they heard an announcement over the loudspeaker. The distinctive Italian accent of the captain crackled. They opened the door to their cabin to better hear the message, since the speakers were loudest in the common areas.

In Italian first, the captain made a brief announcement. “La nostra nave è stata comandeered da forze esterne che stanno chiedendo per la collaborazione.”

“The ship has been commandeered by outside forces that have asked for your cooperation,” Jones translated as Cooper and Fredo burst into the hallway, fully dressed.

“Where the fuck is Kyle?” Coop asked.

“Right here,” Kyle said behind them, breathing hard. “We aren’t going to have much time.”

“Moshe get information off?”

“Ship’s internet has been shut down. His call to the Maersk lines was interrupted. I had to get back here.”

“Is he okay?”

“He was taken prisoner by two masked men in black. I escaped by hiding in the secret compartment he’d designed and had built at his own expense.” Kyle and Mark shared a look. “Moshe knows he’d be one of the first they executed, if they want to make a statement. The man saved my life. I owe him.”

“Understood,” said Cooper.

Mark nodded. Yes, he’d help Kyle in that mercy, or death mission. His Team leader had a wife and child, and he would need help from someone who didn’t. And they wouldn’t be able to spare more than two others.

“So no one knows about this takeover?” Jones asked.

“The signal was sent,” Kyle answered.

A distress signal had been broadcast, notifying all listeners within a five hundred mile radius. Problem was, Mark knew, it couldn’t discriminate about who received the signal.

“But I got in the calls with my sat,” Kyle added.

The scratchy voice of the captain came over the loud speaker again, this time in English.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he began, as he had begun all his other happier announcements on board. “Our ship has been commandeered by persons unknown who are asking for your cooperation. I have been assured that, if everyone cooperates, there will be no danger. There will be no injury or loss of life.”

That last statement had a chilling effect on the group. Several people in nightgowns and pajamas opened the doors to their cabins and stepped out into the hallway. Groups of family members and friends began to form.

“We’ve gotta move.” Kyle said. “Say your goodbyes, quick. Jones and Fredo, you stay here with the women. If they start executing people, they’ll start with the white boys first.

Sanouk peered out from the darkened room wearing loose pants and gi-type top that wrapped around his waist and tied at the side. Underneath, nestled in the folds of light gray fabric, Mark could tell he had secreted a curved, bladed knife. Mark had no doubt he fully knew how to use it, too.

“I’ll be here to help defend, Kyle,” the boy said.

“Fuckin’ A. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Fredo said.

“Mark, Armando and I are going to find Moshe. Tyler and Rory, you’re on mission to go with Coop to the engine room and find the bomb. Nick and Grady, go see if you can find Teseo on the bridge. I’ll text you, so keep your cells on. Everyone charged up?”

Nods all around.

“We have a small cache of weapons on Lifeboat 26, gents,” added Mark. “But don’t leave me stranded without any equipment, and—whatever you do—don’t lead them there.” You see Sophia, you need to get a message or something delivered there, she’s in on it and ready to help. But be careful.”

“Everyone have some sort of sidearm? Anyone short?”

The group shook their heads.

“Back in thirty secs,” Kyle said and disappeared into his cabin. One by one the men slipped in and then back out of their rooms after a private farewell.

Armando and Mark waited for Kyle in the hall. Armani was checking one of the magazines he’d pulled out of the lower pocket or his cargo pants. He knew Armani’s Sig was holstered at the small of his back, right where Mark carried his.

“Amazing they didn’t spot these in our luggage,” he said to Armando.

“I had mine disassembled and tucked all over the place. I don’t think they knew what the fuck they were looking at.”

“Great minds…” Mark was going to continue, but Kyle appeared at the doorway and quietly closed it behind him.

“We go,” was all the guy had to say.

The men from SEAL Team 3 ran in two directions. Mark followed Kyle, with Armando bringing up the rear. They threaded through passengers who were confused and more than a little panicked. It was going to be bedlam soon.

“You really get through to SOCOM?” Mark asked Kyle’s back.

“Left a message for Commander Ramsey and Timmons.”

“Shit,” Armando said behind him.

“They can track the phone,” Kyle added quickly. “I had the tracking device installed last year. They’ll know it was me, just as if I sent up a red flare, though. They’ll figure it out.”

“Hope it’s in time,” Mark whispered.

Kyle stopped and faced Mark. “You stop that shit, man. We’re all going to make it out alive. All of us. No one gets left behind.”

“I’m all aboard, Lanny. And if someone has to take the hit, it’s gonna be me and not you. I’m clear on that,” Mark retorted.

“Nah, not unless I get there first, man,” Armando said behind him.

Kyle’s phone began to ping. Mark recognized the unique ringtone of their Chief, Timmons.

“Bad timing, Chief,” Kyle said into the phone as he watched the hallway.

“What’s this thing about terrorists…”

“Look, I’m real sorry, but I’m waiting for a return call from SOCOM, unless you got a chopper or some reinforcements, I’m not being conversational.”

Mark could hear Timmons yell at the insult. “You fuckin’ prick. You think I’m just being conversational?”

“Get to the point, sir. We’re outnumbered. You might retire in a couple, but we might wind up dead.” Kyle delivered it with his blue-eyed steely stare right into the pit of Mark’s stomach.

They all heard the crash as Timmons did the nasty on the frog statue the team had bought and replaced.

Kyle shook his head and had to chuckle. Mark had to admit it was a light moment, and they were needing a bit of that right now. “I see you got Flipper again. His replacement isn’t going to like spending the rest of his days next to your wife’s dolls.”

“I don’t want another one. Get your butts to a safe location and get yourselves home. I understand they’re working on something. Just wanted to check for…for…”

“We’re all good so far. A lot better than Flipper. No one injured or killed. Working to keep it that way. I gotta go, Chief. Will be in touch.”

“You fuckin’ do that, Kyle. You better get yourselves safely home.”

“Roger that.” Kyle hung up. “Okay, now we go balls to the wall,” he said to Mark and Armando. No more distractions.”

Kyle whipped around and continued running. Mark had to work to keep up with him. He wondered when the terrorists would get to the crew decks. He wondered if they would mess with the women or only go after the men. He stopped himself and corrected his thought pattern.

Looking for options. There are always options. Improvise. It was what they trained for every workup.

Way too soon to start thinking about casualties.

Rapid gun bursts were making staccato appearances on most levels, most of them seeming to come from the upper decks. The security officer’s quarters were at zero deck at the backside of the medical bay. Mark was glad they weren’t carrying anything but sidearms. No duty bags to draw attention. Not that the extra firepower wouldn’t have been nice.

A tray had been knocked to the floor and broken dishes and silverware scattered about. They could hear heavy boots coming around the corner, so the three SEALs deflected toward the medical officer’s station. On the way they noticed the cargo doors wide open, the night sea breeze refreshing the stale air of the zero deck. Laced in the salty sea smell was diesel engine fuel. The SEALs could see several smaller ships bobbing alongside, their lights flickering like stars. They were about to be boarded.

Luckily the doors to the medical office were unlocked, so they ducked inside the reception area, keeping the lights out, and hid behind the counter. They saw a trio of combat troops in dark camo run past the glass window of the sick bay door, headed toward the open cargo bay or the elevators beyond. A crowd of confused crew in their nightclothes converged. Multiple languages were being shouted angrily.

Mark remembered studying the footprint of the zero deck when he considered searching for Sophia before they’d begun their trysts in the lifeboat. He scampered to one of the treatment rooms and pulled a lower cabinet off the rear wall. Listening to be sure he hadn’t generated any attention on the other side, he kicked the wall once, his boot coming out the other side. With another two kicks and the help of Kyle and Armando to pull back the flimsy wall, they managed to make a hole large enough to crawl through. Armando was the last one through, and he pulled the cabinet behind him to cover up their passageway.

Inside Moshe’s office they found the desk and drawers had been tossed. Kyle quietly closed the private door and heard a satisfying click as the built-in security kicked in. Broken pictures of the Israeli’s wife and family lay at the floor. Mark noted the door had been ripped off the safe, rendering it useless.