You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 297

Bang.

Aiden’s arm fell, and the guy threatening Jackson crumpled to the ground.

Jackson didn’t waste a second. He snatched up the dropped gun and rolled behind a tree, making sure he didn’t drag Aiden and the others into more trouble than necessary.

The attackers outnumbered them, but their team made quick work of it.

When the dust finally settled, Aiden scanned the area one last time to be sure it was safe. Then he walked over and held out a hand to Jackson.

“You good to stand?”

Jackson pushed himself up, waving him off. “I got it.”

“Did you see who set up the explosives?”

“Mercenaries. Someone put a bounty on me online.”

Aiden frowned. Someone really wanted Jackson gone if they’d gone so far as to post a hit on the web.

“Let’s get out of here. Patricia’s freaking out.”

At the base of the mountain, Patricia was a mess in the front seat, fidgeting nonstop, her brow furrowed so tightly it looked painful.

Oliver sat behind the wheel, knuckles white on the steering wheel. He couldn’t hide his nerves, either.

Jackson was reckless, but right now, they couldn’t replace him. If they tried, Patricia would throw a fit and make everyone’s life hell.

“Pattie,” Mr. Padilla said softly, “Aiden knows what he’s doing. Trust him.”

Patricia gave him a worried, apologetic glance. “Sorry. I’m just nervous.”

He nodded gently. “I get it.”

“If I’m annoying you, I’ll get out,” she blurted.

Mr. Padilla just pressed his lips together, clearly trying to keep his cool. Patricia had a knack for tossing up walls between them with just a few words.

No one could blame him. Oliver’s glare was cold enough to freeze the sun.

Finally, Patricia turned to look at Oliver, and the shadows in his eyes stopped her in her tracks. She opened her mouth, then closed it, defeated.

“Let me know if you need anything,” she said quietly.

Jackson didn’t go to the hospital. Instead, they headed straight back to Cloud Peak. Wounds like his were better handled by a private doctor anyway.

Oliver was always careful—he’d never let outsiders get any dirt on him. If anyone found out what happened, rivals would twist the story and cause chaos. It wasn’t hard to manage, just a pain.

Aiden parked by the side house. Oliver’s car pulled up at the main building.

Patricia was still frantic about Jackson. She barely waited for the car to stop before heading straight for the side house. “I’m going to check on Jackson.”

All night, Oliver had bottled up his frustration, but now it finally exploded. His angry shout echoed through the yard and sent birds scattering from the trees.

“Patricia!”