Chapter 488

Sabotaged.

Richard's POV.

I arrived at the location Elias had sent me. Recognizing him from a distance, I hurried toward the table.

"You were supposed to be here an hour ago. You missed the entire meeting." He said, his brows drawing together.

"I was with Raina. I completely forgot about the meeting." I said casually.

"So... Have you spoken to her about sharing custody of your daughter?" He said, leaning forward.

"Not really." I exhaled sharply. "I didn't go there to talk about custody. I was just worried about her." I admitted.

"I'm guessing that didn't go well." He said, one brow lifting.

"Well, she tried to bribe me off and then threatened to play dirty when I refused her offer." I said, my fingers tightening around the glass.

"Can you imagine that?" I scoffed. "Raina was offering me deeds in exchange for giving up my desire to see my daughter." I said, shaking my head.

"How sick." I said, my jaw tightening as I reached for the already-poured drink.

Elias remained silent, watching me gulp down the alcohol for a while before he spoke again.

"I kind of understand her." He said, and my gaze immediately lifted to him.

"She has been through so much over the years. Betrayed countless times and left to protect herself. Maybe she's just scared and panicking." He said, his shoulders lifting slightly.

"She doesn't really trust you, and she fears you would actually take her daughter away. I would act hysterically if I were in her shoes." He said, studying my face.

I sighed and slammed the glass onto the table.

"Well, too bad for her. I'm tired of waiting for her to trust me." I said, my fingers curling around the edge of the table.

"Call my lawyer and..." I began, but paused as my thoughts jolted back to the picture Elias had sent me.

"That woman... The one whose picture you sent me. Who is she?" I asked, my gaze narrowing.

His eyes narrowed slightly. "You asked for the picture of Gotham's missing daughter-in-law. That's her." He said, glancing at his phone.

"She ran away with her newborn baby after she killed her husband, only a day after giving birth." He added.

My hand immediately went to my jacket pocket as I tried to pull out my phone and look at the picture again.

I knew she looked familiar. I was certain I had seen her somewhere before.

"Our informant on Gotham reported that he seems to be searching for this woman after receiving a tip that she had returned to the city." He said casually.

I clenched my fists as I stared at the table.

Gotham was looking for her? His son's murderer.

What if he found out she had been hiding with Theo and that they were working together to expose him?

That would definitely set him off, and he would kill them all.

And did Theo know who she truly was?

No... No, a Moranno wouldn't be so foolish as to act that way. I was certain she had lied to him about her identity.

"I was also told he rejected Ms. Moranno's proposal." He continued lightly, and his words immediately pulled my attention back to him.

"What?" I asked, my brows drawing together. "Why do you look so surprised?" He asked with a faint grin.

"Gotham is an influential cunt. Guessing he has grown suspicious of Raina isn't far-fetched." He said, leaning back in his chair.

My hands clenched as I rose to my feet.

Was Gotham really suspicious of Raina?

Did his withdrawal have anything to do with Theodore harboring his daughter-in-law?

"Tell your men to keep a keen eye on Gotham and Raina." I said, already turning away from the table.

Without waiting for another word, I hurried out.

The black-tinted cars parked around Theodore's apartment confirmed my suspicion. Gotham was after him and was only waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

When Theodore finally opened the door, I pushed him inside and grabbed him by the collar.

"You have to leave. You have to leave this country now. Gotham is after you," I urged, my grip tightening on his shirt.

"What? What are you talking about?" He stared at me, his brows drawing together.

"About Gotham. He's fucking after you. I knew the woman I saw earlier here looked too familiar." I dragged a hand through my hair.

"She was married to Gotham's son before she murdered him and ran away with her newborn child." I watched his face carefully.

"Now Gotham knows she's back here, and he's coming after you for keeping her with you."

I paused and searched his face.

He didn't flinch.

"Theo, aren't you listening? She's a wanted murderer?" I asked, my brows lifting as I stared at him.

He looked away, his fingers pressing against his forehead.

"You knew?" I asked, my voice rising. "You knew she was the woman who murdered Gotham's son and still followed her here to take revenge?"

My eyes remained fixed on him, but his gaze kept shifting around the room.

"That isn't what happened," he began, his voice faltering.

"You fucking knew!" I snapped.

"Not until two days ago. I didn't know until I saw her portrait in Gotham's mansion." He dragged a hand down his face.

"But that changes nothing. She told me her husband was an abusive prick." His shoulders squared as he faced me again.

I scoffed. "You sick bastard. You're really ready to put Raina and the rest of your family in danger because of a woman who lied to you?"

"They're not in danger. Raina is the Mafia boss. She can protect herself. But Melissa can't." His jaw tightened as he held my gaze.

I hissed and raked my fingers roughly through my messy hair.

"Gotham is a madman. A ruthless maniac who wouldn't mind burning himself if it meant taking his enemy down."

"He knows she's with you as we speak, and he has already made you an enemy." I pointed toward the window, where the black-tinted cars remained parked outside.

How could he prioritize a woman who had lied to him over his own family? Didn't he care at all?

He had returned after six years only to drag everyone into a bloodbath.