Salted Hearts

II. Tides of Suspicion

Dove into unfamiliar waters, and now I can’t tell where I stand.

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting soft hues of pink and gold across the water. The beach was quieter now, stripped of the chaos from the soirée the night before. Only the rhythmic sound of waves greeted Cora as she stood on the shoreline, her boots sinking slightly into the damp sand.

The folder from Chief Devoe sat heavy in her bag, its contents replaying in her mind. The grainy photograph of Kai Montague was burned into her thoughts, but it wasn’t just his face that haunted her. It was the questions.

Who was he, really?

Why did his name keep surfacing in connection with missing persons?

And why did she feel a pull toward him with a mixture of suspicion and something she couldn’t yet name?

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. She fished it out of her pocket, squinting at the message.

Devoe: “Montague’s heading to the Wavecrest training grounds this morning. It’s a good chance to get closer.”

Cora sighed, slipping the phone back into her pocket. She hated the idea of playing nice with someone she didn’t trust, but she knew she had to. If Kai was involved in something as dark as human trafficking, she needed to find proof.

The drive to the training grounds was uneventful, the narrow coastal road winding between cliffs and ocean. She parked at the edge of the lot, her car one of only a handful scattered there. The air was thick with salt and the faint scent of sunscreen, and the sound of distant waves filled the silence.

Cora scanned the beach, her eyes landing on a group of surfers gathered near the water. They were a mix of seasoned professionals and eager newcomers, their boards propped up in the sand as they chatted and laughed.

And there he was.

Kai Montague stood at the center of the group, his wetsuit hanging loose around his waist and a board tucked under his arm. He was animated as he spoke, his hands moving to mimic the motion of a wave. The others hung on his every word, their laughter mingling with the crash of the surf.

The sun had kissed his skin a deep bronze, and his brown hair, tousled and sun-bleached at the tips, clung in messy strands, still damp from the ocean. When he ran a hand through his hair, grains of sand tumbled free. His lean, toned frame moved with an effortless ease, like he belonged to the sea more than the land.

Cora stayed back, watching him from a distance. There was something almost magnetic about him, the way he carried himself with an ease that seemed effortless. But she couldn’t forget the darker side of the file — the reports, the rumors, the connections to people who had vanished without a trace.

“Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to say hi?”

The voice startled her, and she turned to find Kai looking directly at her, a playful grin tugging at his lips.

She forced a neutral expression, crossing her arms. “Didn’t want to interrupt.”

Kai tilted his head, studying her with a curiosity that made her uncomfortable. “You’re not exactly blending in, you know. What brings you here, Flair?”

Cora hesitated, then shrugged. “Figured I’d see what all the fuss is about. People seem to think you’re some kind of legend.”

He laughed, the sound rich and unguarded. “Legend, huh? I’ll take it. But you don’t strike me as the type to buy into hype.”

“I’m not,” she replied, her tone sharper than she intended. “I like to see things for myself.”

Kai’s grin widened, and he gestured toward the water. “Then why don’t you join me? I can show you what all the fuss is about.”

Cora hesitated, caught off guard by the invitation. She hadn’t planned on interacting with him so directly, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. If she wanted to get closer to him, this was her chance. But instead, she teased him,

“Cute. Nice way of saying, “I want to be with you'".

Kai laughed hard, “Those conceited statements of yours sound hilarious. Aren’t you too proud of yourself, princess?”

“Well, why can’t I?”

Kai looked at her from head to toe and made an approving face. “I see where you’re going. Anyway, will you be there?”

“Alright,” she said finally. “But don’t expect me to be impressed.”

___________________________________________________

The water was colder than she expected, the chill seeping through her borrowed wetsuit as she paddled out on a board that felt too narrow and unstable beneath her. Kai was ahead of her, his movements smooth and practiced as he cut through the waves.

“You’re stiff,” he called back, glancing over his shoulder. “Relax your shoulders, or you’ll tire yourself out before you even catch a wave.”

“I’m fine,” she snapped, gritting her teeth as she tried to steady herself.

Kai chuckled, waiting for her to catch up. “You’re stubborn, I’ll give you that.”

Cora didn’t respond, focusing instead on the horizon. The ocean stretched endlessly before her, its surface shifting and shimmering under the morning sun. It was beautiful, but it was also deceptive like it could swallow her whole.

Just like it had swallowed him.

Her chest tightened at the memory of her fiancé, his laughter echoing in her mind as vividly as if he were beside her. She shook her head, pushing the thought away. This wasn’t the time to get lost in the past.

“Ready?” Kai’s voice broke through her thoughts, and she looked up to see him pointing at an approaching wave.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she muttered.

He guided her into position, his instructions surprisingly patient as he coached her through the motions. When the wave finally lifted her, she felt a fleeting moment of exhilaration before losing her balance and tumbling into the water.

The ocean swallowed her with a force that took her breath away, the salt stinging her eyes and filling her nose. She resurfaced, gasping for air, and found Kai waiting nearby, his expression somewhere between amusement and concern.

“Not bad for a first try,” he said, paddling closer. “You’ve got potential.”

Cora shot him a glare, pushing her wet hair out of her face. “Don’t patronize me.”

“Hey, I’m serious,” he replied, his grin softening. “Most people don’t even make it that far on their first day.”

She wanted to argue, but the sincerity in his tone caught her off guard. But it was fleeting, gone as quickly as it had appeared.

___________________________________________________

By the time they returned to the beach, Cora’s arms felt like lead, and her legs ached from the effort of staying upright. Kai, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed, his energy as boundless as ever.

“Not bad for a rookie,” he said, flashing her a teasing smile as they walked back to the training area.

“Don’t get used to it,” she replied, her tone dry.

Kai laughed, tossing his board onto the sand. “Fair enough. You’re full of surprises, Flair. I’ll give you that.”

“Stop giving me compliments, we’re not close.”

Kai ’s laughter echoes. “I’m sure we will be.”

Cora didn’t respond, her attention drawn to a group of people gathered near the edge of the beach. Among them was the woman she had seen the day before, her expression tense as she spoke in hushed tones with another man.

“Friends of yours?” she asked, nodding toward the group.

Kai followed her gaze, his expression unreadable. “Just locals. Why?”

“No reason,” she said, forcing a casual tone.

But as she watched the interaction unfold, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The woman’s posture was rigid, her movements quick and nervous.

Kai’s voice pulled her back. “You’ve got that look again.”

“What look?”

“The one that says you’re up to something.”

Cora met his gaze, her expression unreadable. “Maybe I am.”

Kai studied her for a moment, then shrugged, a grin tugging at his lips. “Fair enough.”

As he walked away, Cora’s mind raced.