Page 48 of Falling For The Enemy (The Gilbert Curse)

“Your brother ruined Orr Industries after the crash,” Mallory said. “Just bought up all the shares and then dismantled it. Kit had no choice but to use his mother’s maiden name and start a new company. He built it from the ground up.”

Rory felt almost sick to her stomach hearing this.

“Kit told me his father drank too much, leading to his death and the need for Kit to take over the company,” she said, not sure why Mallory was telling her all this and if what she was saying was even true.

“He did. After your brother took everything from him,” Mallory pointed out. “I guess everyone has been keeping you in the dark.”

Had they been? Dash could be ruthless—that was a given, but would he have ruined Kit’s father just because Declan had attacked her? She had no idea and would need to talk to him. It was somehow easier to think of confronting Dash than talking to Kit.

Dash had been hurt and angry after the crash. She was glad he’d been her protector and had defended her while she’d been in the coma. And she also understood how her brother’s mind worked.

But then there was Kit.

The Kit she knew who had lied to her. There was no two ways about that. He’d never mentioned that he was related to the man who had caused the accident that put her in a coma. Not even when she’d mentioned that a car accident had set both of them on this path.

The same accident. It was hard on him, too; his life had changed that night as well. She knew that and wanted to be sympathetic, but she was hurt. Then she remembered how hard it was for him to talk about the loss of his father and brother. Was there more to this than the other woman was making out? Could she even believe her over Dash?

“I’m sorry, Mallory...but I’m not buying this,” she said.

“That’s up to you, but it is the truth, my dear. Maybe you should ask your brother.”

“I will,” Rory responded tightly. Taking out her phone, she texted Dash, asking if he had time to see her.

He texted back that he was at Gilbert Manor and could be at her place in a few minutes.

“My brother is on his way.”

Rory put her phone down. She wanted to call Kit. To demand he tell her if his aunt was telling the truth. Had he come into her life just to use her? She didn’t dwell on the fact that she wasn’t sure if she’d given him any information he could use to hurt Dash.

Instead, she just sat there waiting for her brother to arrive, trying to hold herself together. She’d wanted to be alive and to feel all the emotions. But in her mind she’d seen only the good and the happy side of falling in love. She’d never let herself even consider that love could hurt. Not like this.

Kit got halfway to Boston before realizing that the meeting wasn’t urgent and he could go and join Rory and his aunt for brunch after all. His aunt had been...well,offsince he’d introduced her to Rory. Normally Aunt Mal stayed out of the day-to-day running of the company but lately she’d been in the office all the time and on the phone to Kit daily. He was afraid she thought that he was going to abandon her, which he’d never do.

It had been the two of them for so long that he understood where she was coming from. But after his discussion with Dash and Conrad at Rory’s Halloween party, he was confident that his family’s version of events was far from the full truth. He’d hoped to talk to the Gilbert men and get more information on what had happened that night, but because of Aunt Mal being in the office so much Kit hadn’t had time.

But today he was determined to get this sorted out. Last night when Rory had been sleeping in his arms, Kit had finally admitted to himself that he loved her. He hadn’t been sure what love would feel like or if he’d ever experience it, but that was definitely the vibe he was getting around Rory.

He wanted to be with her all the time and when he wasn’t, all he did was think about her. He had to get the past history between their families settled so they could have a future together and that was all he was focused on.

Kit left the highway and drove toward Gilbert Corners. It was one of those cloudy autumn days that warned winter wasn’t too far away. A light dusting of snow fell and gathered on the side of the road, painting the town in a soft white coat. Kit had so many complex feelings toward this town. He remembered the first time he’d met Rory when they were kids, the good times with his family until his mom got sick and died. Then the sadness when his brother was killed and they’d had to leave.

He’d never thought he would drive through Gilbert Corners and be thinking of it as his home. But he did. And he knew that was because of Rory.

His original intent of buying up property to keep Gilbert International from developing them had been just a move to block Dash. But now he saw those properties as an investment in the future. In a town where if things went well today, he and Rory would marry and raise a family.

He stopped his car to the side of the road as he approached the bridge where Dec had been killed. He wished that he could talk to his brother and find out if he had been the man to attack Rory. But he couldn’t. He was almost afraid to ask Conrad and Dash because if they confirmed it, he would be broken.

He’d spent the last decade trying to avenge his brother’s death. To make up for the wrong that had been done to their family by the Gilberts. But if it turned out that Dec’s actions had been responsible, that Dec had assaulted the woman he now loved...he wasn’t sure how he’d go on. How could he ask Rory to be his wife if his brother had done such horrible things to her that had led to both of their families being torn apart?

He rubbed the back of his neck, putting his head against the steering wheel. To say he was conflicted was an understatement.

Sighing, he put the car back in gear and drove toward Rory’s house. When he turned on their street he noticed Aunt Mal’s car in her driveway but also Dash’s. He parked his car in his own drive and hurried down the walk toward Rory’s.

Why was Dash there? Had something happened to Rory? She’d decided to stop using her cane in the house. He knew she’d gotten much stronger, but the floors were hardwood and she had been wearing socks as the weather had turned cooler. Had she slipped?

He was in a panic as he raced up her drive and opened the door. Not even bothering to knock. But when he stepped into the hallway, he heard arguing and Rory’s voice was the loudest of them all.

“I don’t know what your brother told you, Mallory, but Declan was definitely the man who attacked me that night.”

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