Jamie's Heart [Amazon Warriors 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (3 page)

Conrad’s father, with his arm over his mother’s shoulders, gave her a loving and reassuring squeeze. His father continued where his mother left off. “We all tried to run to her, get her back, but the look she gave us stopped us. We could see in her eyes that she wanted to go. In the end, we had to watch as our daughter, along with thirteen other young women from the tribe and Delila, fled the estate. None of them looked back.”

The hurt and anger was clear in his father’s voice, but it was also clear for Conrad to see in the eyes of his mother and sisters.

Once again, silence settled over the room. A room that he remembered was normally filled with banter, laughter, and joy.

“I can’t believe anyone from the tribe could turn their back on us, let alone my own sister.” He may have been gone more often than he was home, but he would always consider himself part of the tribe. He was born and raised with these people, he considered them all his family, but for his sister to do such a thing, he never would have even considered it in the realm of possibility.

“No one can believe it. As Amazons, we’ve always been taught to expect the unexpected, yet still no one expected to be betrayed by one of our own.” His father spoke as he stirred what smelled like chili for dinner.

Delila and her family had been part of their tribe for centuries. They were well liked and respected, and the rest of the family still was. Delila, however, had recently plotted against the tribe and brought them to the brink of war all because of her outdated beliefs.

When Amazons were first created, they believed they were superior to men. The only man they respected was their father, Ares. Any other man was seen as expendable, and they were either killed or used as slaves. Once or twice a year, they would use their slaves to procreate new Amazon warriors. If a warrior gave birth to a son, they were killed, given to their fathers to raise, or left in the wilderness to fend for themselves. This earned the Amazons the title of “the killers of men.”

It was not a history most Amazons were proud of, but it was the way of life Delila believed in and what motivated her betrayal.

“How is the tribe doing with all of this? The other families?”

“Getting through it. Some are handling it better than others. We, along with the other families who lost someone to Delila’s ridiculous crusade, are the worst affected, obviously, but the tribe is supporting them and us as best they can,” his mother answered.

Conrad was thinking about all he’d heard and learned when he was brought out of his musings abruptly as the front door slammed. Everyone was on alert instantly. Even his dad wielded a chili-covered, wooden spoon.

They all relaxed when they saw Jordon storm into the kitchen and over to the refrigerator as if she owned the place.

His mother had been best friends with Jamie and Jordon’s mother, Jade. The pair of them had fought many wars together, but Jade sacrificed herself to save his mom. His mom vowed to take care of the twins as if they were her own. They’d been part of the family ever since. Even though they had a house of their own on the estate, the twins still used his family home as their home, and his family wouldn’t have it any other way.

His family watched as Jordon pulled out a can of soda and slammed the door shut. She didn’t even seem to realize there was anyone else in the room. They all eased back down into their seats, and his dad went back to cooking, all watching for the moment Jordon realized she wasn’t alone.

It took a few moments, but he smiled when she stopped drinking and slowly lowered the can from her face. The penny had finally dropped.

“Hey,” she just said simply. As her eyes scanned the room, she noticed him for the first time. How she had missed his bright-red pickup truck on the way in, he’d never know.

“Oh, my God! Conrad?” She ran toward him. Conrad stood just in time to catch her as she launched herself at him.

“What are you doing here? When did you get home? Are you all right? Are the others coming home, too? Oh, my God, I’m so glad you’re back.”

Laughing he replied, “Nice to see you, too, kid,” and backed away from the stranglehold she had on him. “Where’s shorty? And what’s got you storming around the house?”

“I asked you first.” Jordon stood in front of him with her hands braced on her hips and a stubborn tilt to her jaw. Then he watched as a mischievous little smile curved her lips. “And why is it you always seem to ask about
shorty
the first chance you get?”

“Brat,” he said, smiling as he got her in a headlock and ruffled her hair with his knuckles. Jordon let him have his fun for a few moments before easily wrestling herself free.

“Jerk.” Jordon mused as she punched him weakly in the arm.

“I came to make sure my family and the tribe were okay. I got in ten minutes ago, and I’m fine, a little beat up and tired but fine, thank you for asking. We don’t know about Cole and Connor, but you know they’ll try to be home as soon as possible.”

He refused to acknowledge her comment about shorty.

“Now…it’s your turn?”

Jordon huffed but sat at the dining room table behind him.

“I don’t know where
shorty
is,” Jordon said and smirked at him, causing Conrad to roll his eyes at her before she continued. “And I’m mad because I slipped, I
fucking
—”

“
Language,
” his parents admonished in unison.

“Slipped. Again!” Jordon continued.

Jamie sat at the end of the small jetty on the edge of Strawberry Reservoir, just a ten minute walk from the estate. As Jamie looked out over the slow, rippling water, caused by a gentle breeze, and saw the reflection of the colored sky and setting sun, she found solace, her place of peace. It was important for every warrior to have a place that was their escape, a place where they found tranquility in a life of battles and war.

“Hey, shorty, I thought I’d find you here.”

Jamie sighed contently. That voice was like music to her ears. It washed over her like a balm on her soul. His presence just enhanced the perfection of the moment.

She turned to look up, from where she sat on the jetty of Strawberry Reservoir, at the man who had dominated her thoughts and her heart for the best part of a decade.

To her, Conrad Quin was magnificent. Amazons were descended from the Greek god of war, Ares, but Conrad could be the son of Adonis himself. He was just
that
gorgeous. He had wavy blond hair that just touched his shoulders with blue eyes the color of sapphires. He stayed clean shaven as if to highlight his strong male features. The man was tall, strong, and powerful with the ability to make her weak at the knees with a single glance.

Jamie knew he would never see her as more than a friend, the girl he grew up with, but she would always hold out hope that one day he would see her the way she saw him.

Jamie managed to give him a quick glance over her shoulder, a fleeting smile, and a halfhearted nod in greeting.

“That’s it? That’s all I get?” Conrad asked in confusion as he sat down beside her.

All she had really wanted to do was jump up from the jetty and throw herself into his waiting arms. That’s how she always greeted him when he came back from assignment, and it had been so long since she had felt the comfort of his embrace, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“Things change.”

“
Things
change, but
you
don’t,” Conrad said sternly, sounding annoyed at her. “So, what is it?”

Jamie knew she shouldn’t have been surprised by Conrad’s insight. He knew her better than anyone, other than Jordon.

Jamie shrugged as she nonchalantly stated, “I’m tired.”

“Bullshit,” was Conrad’s eloquent response, almost making her smile.

Sighing in frustration and defeat, Jamie begged, “I want to be alone, Conrad. Please leave.”

Jamie dared a glance toward his face to see a mask of hurt, anger, and determination. Jamie knew from experience that that mask was one to fear. When Conrad Quin set his mind to something, he made sure it happened.

“Make me.” Conrad sounded so fierce as he stood to his full six-foot-seven height, towering over her.
God.
Just the power and presence in his voice had the ability to turn her on.

“What?”

“You want me to leave, shorty? Make me!”

“No.” She turned away from him. She was not doing this with him here, now.

“What, you can beat up your sister, but you can’t spar with your best friend?”

Jamie stood so fast Conrad stumbled back a step. She couldn’t hide her smirk before she managed to school her features and glared at him.

“Don’t do this, Conrad.” Jamie implored as she started to feel the fire in her belly and the fight in her blood. He was goading her, trying to piss her off, trying to get her to fight.

And it was working.

“Unbelievable. You’re an Amazon warrior who won’t even fight to protect her honor or pride? What are you? Weak?”

Oh no he didn’t.

That did it. Her anger and annoyance overtook all her self-doubt and worries. All she wanted was to be alone, and he had just pissed all over her and her fucking oasis.

Jamie was going to kick his ass.

As Amazon women were stronger and faster than Amazon men but trained with equal skill, it was not uncommon in Amazon tribes for men and women to fight. Jamie and Conrad, especially, fought all the time. Mostly they were kidding around, but right now she didn’t feel like playing.

She spun on her left leg and jumped as she lifted her right leg to land a solid kick to the side of Conrad’s handsome face.
Such a shame
. He hit the deck of the jetty facedown, just stopping himself from falling into the cool evening temperature of the water.

“I know what you’re doing. You’re pissing me off so I’ll fight you, and eventually, when I’m tired and worn out, you expect me to spill my guts about what’s wrong with me. Well, you’re only going to get half of what you want, a fight.”

She stood over him, raised her right fist, and brought it down with all the strength of the gods she possessed. She hit the deck with her right knee, intending to land a punch to the back of his head.

He must have seen it coming because he rolled out of the way just in time. Jamie punched through the plank of wood Conrad had just been lying on. Her hand was covered with splinters, but she didn’t care. She was too wound up, and she could admit, if only to herself, that she needed a good fight.

Conrad sprung to his feet and took a fighting stance. She saw the smug little smile on his face briefly before he schooled his features. He knew he had won even if he lost the fight.

What an arrogant prick!

She lunged for him, putting all her weight behind her right-hand jab.

He dodged and weaved.

She countered.

Always on the attack while he was always on the defensive. Amazon men were taught during their training that, when fighting an Amazon woman, you use their superior strength against them and to use tactical fighting techniques. Conrad used all of these techniques getting her into holds and countering her every attack.

However, for every trick he knew, she had been taught a maneuver to get out of it.

They were pretty evenly matched. She had strength, he had experience, and they both had skill.

They fought for a long time before either of them showed signs of exhaustion.

They were both getting sloppy, but when she threw a left hook, Conrad caught her by the wrist. He used the momentum of her strike to spin her around and pin her back to his chest, securely holding her wrist across her chest.

“Now don’t you feel better?” he asked as if that would put an end to their fight.

She smiled to herself, but if he thought they were done, he was in for a surprise.

Jamie turned her head around, looked up into gorgeous blue eyes, and with an innocent smile replied, “Not yet.”

She used her free right arm to grab the wrist holding her, and she crouched down, forcing him to do the same. With her powerful thighs, she pushed with all her might, launching them both into the air.

Jamie and Conrad released each other when they began to fall through the air and separated as they were submerged under the reservoir’s dark depths. When they broke the surface of the water, they both gasped at the shocking cold invading their systems.

Jamie was breathing heavily, and she could hear Conrad doing the same, but she could not see him. Whether from exhaustion from the fight or the shock of the cold water, Jamie didn’t know.

After they had recovered enough, Jamie turned, searching for Conrad. When they found each other and their gazes locked, there was a brief moment of silence before they both fell into hysterical laughter.

* * * *

Conrad had managed to land in the water about ten meters away from Jamie. Conrad swam toward her, which was made more difficult for him as he was still trying to contain his laughter. Conrad swam until he was directly in front of Jamie, his forehead almost resting on Jamie’s with his hands on her hips so they wouldn’t drift apart.

Conrad’s closeness to Jamie quickly caused the laughter to stop. Conrad grew serious as he felt the air around him and Jamie become thick with tension. It was moments like this that made Conrad see Jamie as more than his friend and the girl he grew up with.

Jamie was a beautiful, young Amazon woman. Beneath his hand, he could feel her warrior’s strength and her womanly curves. Conrad’s thumbs stroked Jamie’s side where they rested on her hips, accidently rubbing the underside of Jamie’s ample breasts. Jamie was short for an Amazon, being only five foot seven, but she was as powerful and fierce as any Amazon he’d ever known.

Looking at her hair, Conrad saw that now it was wet it looked to be a warm, dark-auburn color, but when dry he knew Jamie’s hair to be a bright, coppery color with a metallic shine. It contrasted beautifully with her bold, sky-blue eyes, eyes so bright they could bring the summer’s sun into winter’s darkest night.