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.

at art-he was just lazy.

And now he couldn’t believe some high school kid was

I sign up for

mouth to protest, but Bowen’s look shut him down. “Alvin,

said, “Don’t even

zipped it. ‘Fine. Guess U have no

‘For real? With Alvin’s family cash, they could

not asking you to do it for nothing,” Bowen added. “How’s 300

would run, but that’s 600

Chapter 8

but that cash was calling her. If she didn’t know better, she’d think

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

didn’t shoot it

just the money. It

use Alvin’s family ties to land

now? New plan. If she could get the Turner family to back her business, that was

I’m in,” Aubree said with a

late. Wanna swap

smooth as ever. “I’ll

raised a hand like he was in school. “Uh, I got

shot him a look. “Relax, Alvin.

Alvin

the car gawked like it was

to play taxi for a girl?”

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

The guy who sasses his dad is nice

Silence hit the car.

guy chuckled. “C’mon. Mr. Turner’s way older than her. He’s not that

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

quiet. Then the first guy growled, “Man, Bowen’s such

Aubree trailed Bowen by a

traffic. Her brother Trevor, the movie star,

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, like

and jeans, but on him? Straight-up model

bad-looking-hell, in her old life, Carmen was jealous enough to mess up her