Page 102 of Where Broken Wings Fly

Even though Pedro’s father ran the kitchen, he couldn’t risk helping me. The last thing I wanted was to get them in trouble either. Only when I got to my knees and begged Mr Sanchez for relief would I be awarded something to eat.

“Willow? You with us?” Killian waves a hand.

I find everyone staring at me and realise I must’ve zoned out. When Ryder attempts to lay a hand on my shoulder, I flinch back, causing him to halt. Looking into his eyes, all I can see is a pair of cruel blue sapphires staring back at me.

It’s so hard to separate these guys from the man that dominated my life, even though I know they’re nothing like him. Past and present are difficult to compartmentalise at times, constantly bleeding into one another.

“You don’t look so good,” Zach worries.

Killian tilts his head. “And you’re too pale.”

Everyone is watching me like hawks. It causes my anxiety to spiral. My neck is wet with sweat, and I feel like I’m going to throw up the cup of herbal tea I managed for breakfast. I need to get out of the spotlight right now so I can fall apart in peace.

“Be right back,” I rush out.

Picking my way back through the madness to check that Arianna is still safe in the bouncy castle with her friends, everything blurs around me and my dizziness increases. Awful, gut-wrenching pain is twisting my insides into knots.

This doesn’t feel like anxiety or even a normal stomach bug. The pain is steadily increasing, like it’s building towards a peak. I’m struggling to even breathe through it.

“Willow!” Lola beckons me over.

Ignoring her shouts, I lean against a tall plant pot to hold myself upright. The world is spinning around me, but I can hear Lola approaching and stopping next to me.

“Come sit with us. Leave those boys to fend for themselves for a while.”

“I c-can’t right now.”

Lola scans over me. “Are you okay?”

“I just need some air.”

“Let me come with you.” She takes hold of my arm, resting a hand against my forehead to check my temperature. “You look white as a ghost, poppet.”

“I’m fine. Please let go of me.”

Her worried frown deepens. “What is it?”

Peeling her fingers from my arm, I’m unable to contain my anger any longer. It rises out of me in an uncontrolled volcanic eruption. I don’t care that we’re surrounded by people, celebrating what should be a happy day.

“Just leave me alone, Lola!”

The group around us falls silent at my raised voice. Lola’s face slackens in surprise, and she takes a measured step back, reaching out for Albie. He moves to her side, a pair of barbecue tongs still in hand.

“Willow?” he prompts. “You good?”

The guys are all rushing to join us, abandoning their food and drinks in the gazebo. This is so not the right time to lose my shit. We worked so hard to make this day special for Arianna.

“Poppet?” Lola reaches for me again.

“Don’t touch me. I want you to stay back.”

“Let’s take this inside,” she suggests.

“No, I’m not going anywhere with you.”

She blanches. “What has gotten into you, Willow?”

Shoving away the hand that Zach tries to grab me with, I hug my throbbing midsection. I’m trembling all over from the exertion of remaining upright, and internally freaking the hell out.

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