(MASON'S POV)
"No."
The word flew out of me before I could stop it, sharp and desperate. My voice cracked halfway through, betraying the panic that was already flooding every vein in my body. Blue stood there in front of my house, tall and calm like the world wasn't about to explode, but I was shaking so hard my teeth were nearly chattering.
I couldn't let him go inside.
Not with the bruises still screaming under my hoodie. Not with Liam's threats still ringing in my ears. Not when Caleb had probably already called ahead to tell my brother that I'd been dropped off by Blue again.
"Please, Blue," I whispered, voice trembling as I took a shaky step back. "You can't come in. Just… go. I'll be fine."
Blue's eyes narrowed, that intense blue gaze locking onto me like he could see straight through the sunglasses, the mask, the lies I was trying to hide behind. He noticed the shaking immediately. Of course he did. Nothing seemed to escape him.
