I guide her deeper into the gardens to where the labyrinth is. It's somewhat old fashioned to keep one here, but I think Father likes the whimsy of it. It isn't as intimidating today, with the sun bright in the sky, but at night time, the maze can be frightening. Which is exactly the reason I brought Nicoletta here.
Unbeknownst to her, I've been quietly testing her knowledge this whole time. But today... Today, I will finally reveal whether Nicoletta Carlucci is the filthy little liar I'm presuming her to be.
She would never admit it out loud, of course, but I have my suspicions. She's triggered them a few times now, but today, I will find out for sure.
"Is this a hedge maze?" she asks.
"Yes." I smirk. "Of course. Come on. Let's go inside."
She giggles as she enters the maze, calling out to me, "Find me!"
Then she's gone in a flutter of fabric and the sweet, soft scent of her perfume.
I tell myself not to panic. She won't run away ‒ she has no reason to. The girl is obviously excited for our upcoming wedding ‒ she likes me, everyone could tell from the start when she first met me and thought I was her betrothed.
Now everything's different. And soon enough, I'm going to get to the bottom of this.
Following in her footsteps, I'm aided by her scent as I follow her deeper and deeper inside the maze. I can practically taste her.
Nicoletta tastes like innocence and lies. Soon enough, I'm going to expose her for what she truly is.
I see a glimpse of fabric as I'm walking, smirking as I realize she's close by. She thinks she's going to win, but there's no chance of that happening. Not when I've got her wrapped right around my finger.
Another glimpse of her dress and she's gone in a flash. We're playing a game of cat and mouse—she just doesn't know it yet. And when I see her flash by me again, I grab her arm.
Nicoletta takes a sharp breath of air as I pull her body against mine.
Our lips are inches apart as I whisper, "Think you can run from me? Think again, Nicoletta."
She laughs, but the sound is nervous, unsure.
I guide her deeper in the maze where no one will overhear.
All while she marvels at the sight of the most special roses in here. Their velvety petals must feel so soft under her fingertips. She doesn't pluck them, she just inhales their sweet scent and tells me how much she loves it here.
To anyone else, this would be the picture of a happy couple, but it's not. I know Nicoletta is hiding something, and I'm not letting her get away with it a moment longer.
As we enter the center of the maze, we sit down on a bench surrounded by rose bushes. She's acting shy, but I don't know if that's part of her act too.
"Have you ever been in a maze like this before?" I ask her, my heart pounding in anticipation of her answer.
She averts her gaze, then shakes her head.
Liar. Fucking liar.
"Are you excited to be back at the Estate?" I ask next.
She nods. "I don't like the Villa so much," she admits. "Father is very strict and... I have to say this place is more beautiful than our home."
"Your father wouldn't like you saying that."
She shrugs. "Our home is very... opulent. But I prefer things that are beautiful in their simplicity."
I nod. I can understand that. At least she's not lying now, hopefully. "Nicoletta, I have a question to ask you," I go on.
"Of course, Ryder." She scoots closer on the bench while still keeping a respectful distance between us. "Anything you want to know. I'm an open book."
I'm so fucking tempted to do this right now. To expose her, call her out for all the lies she's told since we've met again.
The truth of the matter is, this year isn't the first time I've met Nicoletta Carlucci.
We met before, right here in this hedge maze.
But looking at her innocent, wide eyes now, she doesn't seem to remember anything about that.
I need to get to the bottom of this. I need to figure out why she forgot ‒ or what happened all those years ago when a little girl and I sat on this very bench ‒ and she pricked her finger on a rose.
"Nicoletta, I'm going to give you one chance to answer this," I go on, "One chance to make things right, okay?"
Her expression turns serious. "What's wrong?" She laughs, but the sound is uneasy. "Am I in trouble?"
I can practically hear her pounding heart and the way her panicked eyes dance over my face doesn't escape me. I refuse to answer that question. If I say no, she won't reveal more. If I say yes, she'll just close up like a shell around the pearl of truth inside. "Nicoletta, what are you hiding?"
She raises her eyes up to mine, brows knitting together in worry. "I'm not hiding anything."
"Cut the bullshit." My voice is clear as day. I'm not letting her feed me any more fucking lies. It's time to get to the bottom of this once and for all. "Just tell me the fucking truth."
"I don't know why you're asking me that... I've only been open and honest with you."
Oh, here we fucking go with the waterworks. Nicoletta's eyes are already filling with tears.
"I know you're lying about something," I get out through gritted teeth. "Something doesn't add up here."
"Ryder, is this really how you want to start our life together?" Her voice is shaking.
I can see right through her little act. She's trying to shift my attention, make me feel guilty, so I'll drop this. Fat chance of that fucking happening. I'm not going to stop until I find out the truth.
"You're going to accuse me of things?” She pouts. “I thought you liked me..."
"That has nothing to do with it, I—"
She doesn't let me finish. Instead, Nicoletta scoots closer on the bench. Her lips are so very close to mine I find myself tempted to kiss her. But I can't let her fuck with my head like this.
"Don't you want to kiss me?" she whispers, inches away from my mouth. "I really want to kiss you..."
Instead of answering her, I allow my palm to wrap around her throat. She gasps lightly. I'm not trying to hurt her, even though I could. "All I want is the truth," I tell her, surprised by my own gentle tone. She's getting under my skin, and I can't let that happen.
"I've been telling you the truth this whole time—"
"Stop fucking lying," I hiss. "Truth. Now."
"Then ask me a question," she counters. "What do you want to know?"
I get closer to her, staring deep into her icy blue eyes, so similar yet so very different. "Who are you and what the fuck, have you done with Nicoletta Carlucci?"
Ryders Claim
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