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.

knew Alvin wasn’t bad at art-he was just lazy.

pros. And now he couldn’t believe some

I sign up

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

said,

‘Fine. Guess U have no

real? With Alvin’s family cash, they could

do it for nothing,” Bowen added. “How’s 300

would run, but

Chapter 8

it cool, but that cash was calling her. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Bowen knew she was broke and was tossing her

rush, no

shoot it down. She

the money. It was Bowen-his

waves, then use Alvin’s family ties

her business, that was not just money—it was protection.

Aubree said with a nod,

glanced at her phone. “Well, Mr. Turner, it’s late. Wanna swap numbers and chat later? I’m outta

stood, smooth as

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

shot him a look. “Relax, Alvin. I’m just

Alvin

the car gawked like it was a reality

play taxi for a girl?” one

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

sasses his dad is nice to some

Silence hit the car.

Turner’s way older than her. He’s not that

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

Then the first guy growled,

Bowen by a

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

didn’t belong here. Sharp cheekbones, wickedly bold features that hit like a truck. His eyes were deep, like they could see people’s secrets, with a

was in a plain tee and jeans, but

bad-looking-hell, in her old life, Carmen was jealous