Cruisin' For A SEAL: SEAL Brotherhood #5 by Sharon Hamilton Page B

pulling away from shore.
    After the Americans were introduced, Moshe introduced Teseo to the group.
    “My friend, here, also served in the Italian Special Forces, COMSUBIN, and was named after the great Teseo Tesei.”
    Mark had read about the elite frogman teams from Italy who actually pre-dated the SEALs. His Team had trained with them on several occasions during joint operations focusing on the North African arena. They were just as tough as the SEALs, although not as well funded. Their centuries-long history of navigating the waters of the Mediterranean was a source of pride and was unequaled by any other fighting force in the area.
    If Mark’s memory served him, the original Teseo had been a high-value target the Allies had tried to capture during World War II and he died evading them.
    “He was a hell of a frogman. We use some of his inventions today,” Kyle added.
    “The human torpedo,” Mark added.
    “You related?” Rory asked. Mark had wanted to ask the same question.
    “No, sorry to say. But I think my maternal grandmother was secretly in love with the man.”
    That brought some chuckles from the table.
    “He was from our village. I think all the women in town loved him.”
    Mark asked the next question. “So, how do you go from being in the COMs to working on a cruise ship?”
    Teseo and Moshe shared a glance.
    “Divorce makes strange bedfellows of us all,” Moshe said sadly.
    “My wife was unhappy with the lifestyle afforded by my disability pension,” Teseo began. “Moshe here helped get me a job with the line, and I thought my Carmella would enjoy cruising with me.” He looked down at his mineral water, then took a sip and crunched down on some ice. “I was wrong.”
    Nobody had to explain the obvious. Being married to a dedicated warrior didn’t do much to pay the bills, and there were long gaps in their family life that sometimes were filled with extracurricular activities, on both sides, husbands and wives. It was a hard life, and only the dedicated couples, and they were in the minority, were lucky enough to keep a marriage alive.
    “I miss them all,” Teseo said before anyone would have the audacity to ask if he had children.
    “I’m beginning to think I’ll stay perpetually single,” Grady added.
    “You still dive, Teseo?” Kyle asked.
    “Absolutely. I bring my rebreather everywhere.”
    “Seriously?” Cooper asked. “You don’t happen to have another set?”
    “I have three. I sometimes accompany dive teams that need to do inspections. Never miss a chance to use my gear.”
    “So are all your officers Italian, then?” Kyle asked.
    “All but one. Maksym Tereschenko, from Ukraine,” said Teseo.
    “He the tall guy with the pencil moustache?” Mark asked.
    “That would be him. A full two meters tall and then some.”
    “Russian,” Jones muttered.
    “Not quite,” Teseo said. “One of our Ukrainian brothers, a ship’s captain without a Navy,” he added, “We have a few of them also in the engine room. Very skilled workmen, second to Italians, of course.” He shrugged and several of the SEALs laughed.
    The kissing scene Mark had seen on shore, and then the quick view of Maksym in the cabin with the mysterious lady, troubled Mark.
    “So you are allowed to brings wives along on cruises?” Mark asked.
    “Occasionally.” Teseo moved around in his chair uncomfortably as the waitress took their wine orders. He continued when they had privacy. “We are not allowed to spend time with our families if they come, except occasionally at dinner, or on shore when we have a few hours here or there. It is forbidden to spend time in the passenger’s cabin, so you see, it is no, as you say, ‘picnic.’”
    Mark had to ask. His radar was springing to life. “Is this Ukrainian guy married?”
    Moshe leaned forward, accepted a glass of red wine from the steward and cleared his throat until the waitress left. “My understanding is that his wife and family left with a Russian