You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 403

Riverdale Police Station.

Patricia shifted around on the hard chair, trying to get comfortable. She closed her eyes, hoping to catch a quick nap.

She’d barely settled when the door creaked open.

Brandon stepped in, framed by the bright hallway lights. Patricia had to squint to make out his face.

He looked rough—like he hadn’t slept in days, jaw set and eyes stormy.

“Mr. Lantz?”

“Someone up top just killed this case.”

Patricia straightened up in her seat. “Oh?”

“You’re really not scared?” Brandon sounded baffled by how calm she was.

“Scared someone’s coming for me?” Patricia gave a half-smile. “You must not know me, Mr. Lantz. Even the Grim Reaper can’t take me. If he could, I’d be long gone by now.”

She stood, stretching her legs, looking every bit relaxed—like she hadn’t almost died tonight.

As she walked past Brandon, he couldn’t help but watch her. Patricia had always been different. Whether as a teenager or now, she had this quiet confidence, like nothing could ever shake her.

He remembered her as a kid, bold as anything: “I came here to win. That’s it.”

Losing just wasn’t in her nature.

Even after everything she’d been through—losing her family, her home—she was still Patricia.

Brandon couldn’t help himself. “I just don’t get it. How do you stay so calm when everything’s falling apart?”

Patricia paused, glancing at him over her shoulder.

Brandon looked sharp in his suit, hair cropped short, all hard angles. For a second, Patricia felt a weird sense of déjà vu, like she’d known him way before today.

She tilted her head. “Mr. Lantz, have we met before?”

He gave a crooked smile. “Depends on how far back you mean, Ms. Martin.”

Before either of them could say more, the opposite door opened.

Patricia’s eyes flicked to Theo.

Their gazes met.

“You sure you want to make a scene here?”

...

A black SUV sped down the road toward Cloud Peak.

Colton sat in the front seat, scowling at the window.

Jackson, driving, kept glancing over at him, looking half amused and half annoyed.

He’d thought Colton had some fight in him, but the guy couldn’t even handle Theo. No wonder Mr. Padilla was always stressed out about the three of them.

Jackson popped a lollipop in his mouth while waiting at a red light, then turned to Colton. “If you want to say something, just say it. Stop staring at me.”

Jackson grinned, lollipop stick poking out between his teeth. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Colton rolled his eyes. “Go ahead, say it. You’re one of Aunt Patricia’s people. What am I gonna do, fight you?”

Jackson laughed and pulled the lollipop out. “Since you put it that way…”

He waved the candy at Colton. “Honestly, your head’s round—looks solid, but what’s in there? You can’t fight, you won’t do business, you’re just lucky you were born into the right family. Otherwise, you’d be somewhere tightening screws in a factory right now!”