Page 5 of Riptide

Kaimana shivered. Her eyes flashed open, and she pushed her anger to the surface. She’d find Evan, and she’d find them too. She’d destroy their lives and save the women.

* * *

Kaimana made her way to the salon and flattened her hand against the wall as a roll of a wave rocked the boat. They’d settled on a course away from a cyclone in the south, but the seas reminded her that their journey wasn’t for the faint of heart. The vessel could handle the course as long as mother nature allowed for it, so they’d exercise caution in the coming hours.

As she entered the salon, she glanced to the piano, and was flooded with memories of Evan. He’d distracted her from the nightmares, her own mind, insisting she learn the notes to Heart and Soul. It was an innocent interaction that had allowed her to reconnect, to feel again.

Kaimana glanced out the window, and a sad smile crossed her face as the twilight morphed into darkness. She dug her phone out of her pocket and swiped to the controls, breathing a sigh of relief as the curtains slowly sealed off the cabin from view of any passing ships. While she preferred the safety of leaving the cabin lights on, they’d dim them after dinner so as not to attract attention.

Kaimana indulged the fatigue that weighed heavily through her bones and lay back on the black velvet sofa. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she allowed herself just a few minutes of rest. Just five minutes, she told herself. As she drifted off to sleep, thoughts of revenge danced in her mind.

* * *

Kaimana struggled to wake, but the music shook her from her slumber. As the song grew louder her eyes flew open, her sense of fight or flight raging, leaning towards battle.

“What are you doing?” Her heart caught as Seth’s blond curls came into view. The sight of his tanned muscular back stirred a desire to see the rest of him and she shoved the thoughts to the back of her mind.

“Playing the piano,” he responded without turning around to face her.

“How did you get out of your room?” Kaimana sat straight up, her arms tensed, fingers gripping the edge of the sofa.

“Keanu.” He continued to play, focusing on his fingers.

“He’s going to get us killed.” She released a frustrated breath. Her eye twitched as her anger mounted.

“Your brother is a fan. Saw my run at Jaws last year. Sick waves.” Seth continued to play, unbothered by her tone of voice.

“Jesus.” She briefly closed her eyes and then leapt to her feet. “You have to go back to your room now.”

“I promised him a surf lesson next year at Nazaré. He’s gonna run with the big boys.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t worry. He told me about dinner.” A lull in the music filled the space and he rested his fingers gently on the ivories.

“You shouldn’t walk around alone.” She shook her head and craned her neck, looking for her brother. “You’ve been on your back for days. You could fall.”

“Maybe I should tell you the story about the time I was held under four times at Mavericks. Almost didn’t make it…but I did. I have superior health. Well, used to anyway.”

“I should have left you.” Her expression fell flat.

Seth resumed playing the piano. “Happy you didn’t. But the question is why would you bother saving me?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She shook her head.

“I think it does.”

“You should go back and rest.” Kaimana crossed her arms over her chest.

“You know, I’ve asked myself…” He shot her a sly smile, slowing the cadence of the song. “Why would this beautiful yoga woman save me? A queen no less, keep me barely alive but drugged? Save me from the ocean I love so much?”

“I drugged you because I didn’t want you moving around like you are now.”

“Why wouldn’t she just call 911? Dump me at an ER like a normal person would do?”

“We were in Big Sur. Nothing but trees. No phone service. No internet,” she replied.

“Now we both know that’s not true. It’s difficult to reach someone, perhaps, but not impossible.”