Read Online Torn (Lords of the City #1) by Alice Ward - Free Book Online Page B

foster kid.”
    “But you’ve done so well.”
    She giggled, as if I had said something funny. “Of course I did. I was determined to. I enjoy the fact that I put myself through school. I liked the challenge. Life is boring without challenge.”
    “I don’t have any family either. My mother abandoned me when I was a kid. I was raised by my grandma, but she recently passed.” Some of the emotion I’d been withholding leaked out, making my voice hoarse.
    “That is so fucking sad. We can be family,” Julia decided. “We’ll be sisters. We can’t let anything come between us.”
    “Sisters,” I toasted.
    We talked some more, and we made plans to go dancing, but our night was cut short when Noah stormed into the bar. His sandy blond hair was unruly, the first time I’d ever seen it out of place, and there was a weariness that faded the brightness of his eyes, but he remained as overbearing as ever, greeting us with obvious disapproval.
    “Imogen, come with me,” he directed. “We need to go over the notes from the meeting today.”
    With the alcohol pumping through my blood, I was tantalized by his imperiousness. The power he emitted engulfed me, made me his willing servant, prepared to do anything he asked of me. But then I looked at Julia and remembered the vow I’d just made that no one would come between us, especially not a man who was as pompous as he was gorgeous. I couldn’t abandon her, so I stayed where I was.
    “I emailed them to you,” I told him, letting the alcohol fuel my courage instead of my lust. “We can go over the notes tomorrow.”
    I looked at Julia for support, but she shook her head and mouthed, Don’t.
    Noah was prepared for the battle. “Your time is my time until midnight. It’s in the contract. You will be compensated financially for your overtime, of course, but you will come with me. Now.”
    Sharply, he turned his attention to Julia. “Go home. There’s a cab waiting for you.”
    “You can’t talk to you that way!” I said, rising from my seat, feeling woozy. I giggled, my buzz hitting me fast. “I mean, you can’t talk to her that way.”
    Immediately, his demeanor changed. “Imogen, are you okay?” he asked with concern.
    “I think so,” I uttered, though the room spun around me. “Hey, are you a dragon? Corey said he’s a dragon and I’m his gold.”
    “Corey isn’t here,” Noah reminded me.
    “He’s not?” I asked, saddened, then tumbled forward, losing my footing.
    Reaching his arms out, Noah caught me, holding me by the wrists, his grip strong and caring. Blushing, the humiliation sobered me, pushed my buzz away, but it did little to tame my arousal. “Corey’s not here, but you are,” I whispered, completely aware of what I was saying.
    Horrified with myself, I immediately stepped out of his grasp and apologized. “I’m better now. It was just a passing high. I blame the sugar more than the alcohol.”
    He didn’t look so certain. “Are you able to work?”
    “She’s able, but she shouldn’t have to,” Julia said, joining me in my small rebellion.
    Noah straightened, returning to his fortitude. “We’re all leaving,” he ordered and grabbed my hand and led me outside, his skin warm against mine.
    Reluctantly, Julia followed us and got into the cab. “Have fun, sir,” she grumbled as she slammed the door shut.
    Behind the cab, a company car waited for us, its tinted windows ominous in the night. Still blushing, I slipped into the backseat and found my tablet. To avoid any awkward conversation about what I had whispered, I immediately turned it on and pretended to search through my notes. For a long while, we didn’t speak, but as my humiliation wore away, I saw the car ride for what it was — an opportunity to learn more about my sexy rebel in Thailand.
    “Did you and Corey grow up in the city?” I asked.
    “No, we didn’t,” Noah answered vaguely as he adjusted his tie, refusing to look at me.
    It irritated me, breaking the