You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 761

Pacific Capital’s power was one thing, but the Padilla family was a whole different level. People lined up for a shot at getting close. As for him, he was just another face in the crowd, barely worth noticing.

“I’m just me. That’s all there is to it. As long as you remember that, Mr. Lantz, we’re good.”

Brandon hefted the trash bag and tossed it in the bin. Under the washed-out streetlight, he glanced at the city skyline in the distance, the lights from the skyscrapers flickering against the night. His eyes softened for a moment.

Riverdale really was something special.

Just making it to this city was more than some people could ever dream of. Maybe he had it a little easier than most. Maybe in some ways, he had it worse.

He’d been lucky with the family he was born into. Even after his parents died, he had a good foundation. They’d shown him as much of the world as they could while they were alive, so even after he became an orphan, he never gave up on himself.

Still, if his parents hadn’t died, who knows how much more he could have become.

Brandon’s attention drifted back to the street, landing on a ginger cat digging through the trash across the way. “Honestly, I helped Mr. Martin because I owed him for what he did for me back then. We’re even now. That’s all there is to it.”

He turned, phone in hand, heading for the building.

Just then, an older woman from his building shuffled out and spotted him. “Mr. Lantz,” she called, not bothering to check if he was on a call. “We heard you’re moving, Officer Lantz. We’re really going to miss you.”

“Take care of yourself, even after you leave Riverdale!”

Brandon smiled and nodded. “I will, don’t worry.” He held up his phone to show he was still on a call. The woman waved him off with a quick “Don’t let me bother you,” and moved along.

Patricia had caught every word. “You’re leaving, Mr. Lantz?”

“Got a promotion?”

Brandon didn’t hide anything. “Something like that. Thanks to Mr. Martin, I got a few big cases, and now the department’s sending me to be deputy chief out in the development district of a neighboring city.”

“Getting some experience on the ground?” Patricia asked.

“You could say that.” But really, when you got sent out like that, whether you came back depended on who you knew and what you could do. He wasn’t sure if this was a step up or just being quietly pushed aside.

“You’re not so bad yourself, Chief Lantz.”

At eleven, Patricia got the photo. It was a fresh print, laminated along the edges, not quite like the old original he’d kept. This one looked more like a new version of something that used to have history.

At 11:05, Patricia had just climbed into her car when Marian called. Her voice was gentle. “Why aren’t you home yet?”

“I’m on my way. You should get some rest.”

“I can’t sleep until you’re back, miss. I’ll wait up for you.”

Patricia knew Marian worried about her and didn’t try to argue. She told Aiden to drive a bit faster, then hung up. Ever since Jackson stopped working with her, Marian’s concern had only grown. In her mind, Patricia was safest with Jackson by her side. But it wasn’t Marian’s call, and what made her feel at ease didn’t change reality.

When relationships weren’t about blood, people could only walk part of the road together. She and Jackson had gotten Patricia safely this far, helped her get her revenge. Now it was almost time for them to step back.

At eleven forty, Patricia finally got home. The night-shift housekeeper was waiting at the door, telling her Marian was upstairs, getting a bath ready for her.