The Queen They Buried

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The car pulled up to a cozy, old-school courtyard.

“My buddy’s restaurant. Decent grub,” Bowen said, hopping out and offering Aubree a hand like a true gent.

Aubree was surprisingly relaxed, thanks to Bowen keeping things laid-back.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

Alvin shot Bowen a side-eye. ‘Weren’t we hitting that fancy spot tonight?’

The place was cute, with a little garden out front that screamed charm.

The food was total win. The soup was so good Aubree grabbed a second bowl.

Funny thing-the dishes they ordered were perfect for a sensitive stomach, all warm and hearty. Pure luck? Who knew.

“Hey, Ms. Miller…” Bowen started, leaning in.

“Time for the real talk, Aubree thought.

“Just use my name,” she said with a grin.

Bowen chuckled. “Alright, Bree it is.”

That nickname hit her hard. Back at the orphanage, her sponsor, “Mr. Quinn,” sent her cash every month with a letter, always calling her Bree.

No one else ever did.

Aubree bit her lip but didn’t argue. “Sure.”

Bowen lit up when she went with it.

He said,”So, Bree, I heard you snagged a spot in Rithol Art School’s program. That’s dope! You’re into art, right? You know Alvin’s in your class, but his art grades? Straight-up rough. Got time to swing by our place on weekends to tutor him?”

Alvin’s jaw hit the floor. ‘Is he serious?’ He glared at Bowen like he’d lost his mind.

bad at art-he was

were pros. And now he couldn’t believe some high school

sign up for this?’ he

but Bowen’s look shut him down.

smile said, “Don’t even

it. ‘Fine. Guess

‘For real? With Alvin’s family cash, they could hire anyone. Why

asking you to do it for nothing,”

would run,

Chapter 8

know better, she’d think

back, hands clasped, chill as ever. No rush, no pressure-just waiting for her to decide, all

it

It was Bowen-his

plan was to make waves, then use Alvin’s family ties to land investors. Simple

now? New plan. If she could get the Turner family to back her business, that was not just money—it was protection. Nobody crosses the Turners, not

I’m in,” Aubree said with

Mr. Turner, it’s late. Wanna swap

stood, smooth as

he was in school. “Uh, I

look. “Relax, Alvin. I’m just dropping

Uber,” Alvin

bodyguards in the car gawked like

the kid to play taxi for a

Alvin Turner’s classmate. Probably just being nice, right?” the

his dad is nice to some

Silence hit the car.

than her. He’s not that

guy smirked. “Didn’t Kelvin say Mr. Bowen Turner had him snoop on

Then the first guy growled, “Man,

Aubree trailed Bowen by

stop traffic. Her brother Trevor, the movie star, had a jawline that

wasn’t just his looks. He had this vibe-cool, untouchable, like he didn’t belong here. Sharp cheekbones, wickedly bold features that hit like a truck. His eyes were deep,

a plain tee and jeans, but on

down. She wasn’t bad-looking-hell, in her old life, Carmen was jealous enough to