riptide- outer banks

129 | you don't have to say yes

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Kori felt like a badass.

She'd kept her linen pants on since they fit the whole African vibe, but traded in her matching short sleeve button down for an oversized beige poncho. Paired with her look was a burgundy Moroccan head scarf, blonde strands falling out the front of it. Her disguise was perfect to keep people from turning in her direction. To stop them from looking at her as someone 'easy to jump.' If only Rafe could see her now.

Cleo had done a damn good job and not just with her outfit. Everyone looked more like they belonged than a bunch of foreigners ready to rock some shit up. And Logan somehow looked more alive in his all gray outfit. Even with cheeks tinged pink and a dazed look in his eyes, he still caught her attention. He always seemed to do that regardless of what he was wearing.

"So we look good." Kori announced, turning to Cleo with a grin. "Thank you, C."

"Ah, blondie. Love you, too, girl." She remarked, lifting her hand up to meet hers in their signature pogue handshake.

Logan adjusted the gray turban on his head as they stopped. Brow raising, he surveyed the marina that stretched out in front of them. "The wharf?" He voiced, turning to the group.

"Looks super wharfy." Kie pointed out.

"Dis has gotta be it." Cleo assured them.

"Yeah. Groff was on Hollis's boat, so look for something fancy." JJ advised.

Kori's eyes wandered over their options, but nothing looked fancy. Not even half-kook. It was all rundown fishing boats, no sign of luxury docked anywhere. She let out a sigh, head shaking. If this was a dead end, she was gonna lose her shit. They'd been through way too much in the past few days to only get this far.

"Well, I don't know about no fancy boat," Cleo began, lifting her finger to point at one of the vessels. "But that's Terrance's boat. Da one on da right."

Pope's brow furrowed. "Are you sure?"

She turned to him. "I grew up on dat boat. I'd know dat boat anywhere."

"You can see the singe marks, Pope." JJ remarked, gesturing to them.

"If his boat's here, that means the Corsairs are here." Pope realized.

"Which also means Groff's here." John B concluded.

Cleo just stared at the boat. "And the one who killed Captain T."

Kori swallowed hard, but she already knew what the plan was and she hated it.

"No lights." Kie began.

Pope tilted his head. "Not seeing any motion on the boat."

"My vote is, we go storm the fort, see if we can use anything." JJ suggested, not even blinking before turning around in the direction of the boat.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Kori piped up, stepping forward. "No."

"Not you. They know what you look like." Pope echoed.

Kori frowned. "I'll go."

JJ's gaze snapped to her. "No."

She heavily exhaled, hands coming up. "Okay then."

John B's brow furrowed. "Wait, really? That's it."

Her shoulders just rose in a helpless manner. "What am I gonna do, JB? Storm the fort while JJ's body drags behind me because he's clutching onto my ankle? Not worth the fight."