The Other Game (The Perfect Game 4)

“No. I got it. Go sit down. Rest that hard-ass head of yours.”

“You’re worse than Gran.” I sighed, and he tossed a piece of toast at my back as I headed for the couch.

Cassie stood up and started gathering the other dishes. “You don’t have to clean up, Jack. I can help.”

“I know I don’t have to. I want to,” he said as he took the dishes from her hands. “Let me do this, Kitten, please. I wasn’t there last night, and it kills me, okay? I feel fucking helpless. And don’t get me started on the bruises and cuts on your beautiful face. Just let me do this for you. It makes me feel better.”

I watched him trying to convince her, knowing it wasn’t the whole truth. Nothing he did for Cassie wo

uld make him feel better unless it was catching the guy who did this to her. When she relented and headed to her bedroom for a nap, Jack and I talked about how to do exactly that.

“I want you to show me where everything happened,” Jack insisted. “And tell me what he looked like, anything you can remember.”

“No problem. What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to drive there every fucking day until we find this guy. He wasn’t there for no reason. He has to live close by or hang out there. He’s going to show back up, and I’m going to be there to greet him.”

I couldn’t argue with him because I felt the same way he did. Jack wanted to find the asshole that hurt his family, and so did I.

“I’ll look for him too,” I offered, but he snapped at me.

“No. I don’t want you anywhere near this asshole again. You can help me try to find her camera.”

“Okay.” I nodded. That sounded reasonable. “How do we do that?”

“We’ll look online. Craigslist, eBay, anywhere they sell used goods. But I’m betting this guy probably doesn’t have a computer, so that might be pointless, but we should search anyway,” he said as he paced Cassie’s living room. “And I’ll go to the local pawn shops, tell them to be on the lookout for it. I don’t know. Whatever else you can think of that might help.”

“Is she all right? I can’t believe he stole her camera.”

Jack stopped his pacing and hung his head, wrapping his hands behind his neck in frustration. “She’s really sad. She worked hard to save for it and now it’s gone. But I’m going to buy her a new one, a better one. She’ll probably hate it and won’t want to accept it, but I’m doing it anyway. She’s too good at it, and her future is too important.”

I studied Jack for a moment. “I never thought I’d ever hear myself say this, but you’re a really good boyfriend.”

“Damn right I am,” he said, giving me a mock snarl before heading into the kitchen to clean up.

“You’re a good brother too,” I added, and his lips curled up into a smile.

• • •

Melissa was supposed to stay at her parents’ house until Monday morning, but she came back early, bursting through the front door Saturday afternoon when we least expected her. Her jaw dropped open when she saw me and Cassie sitting on the couch, and she ran over to us, wrapping us both in a hug.

“Oh, Cassie, your face,” she said with a concerned whine.

“I know.” Cassie sighed.

“And Dean. How’s your head?” Melissa touched the side of my face, and I lost myself in her eyes.

“Still hurts,” I said with a small smile. “I thought you weren’t coming back until Monday.”

“It didn’t feel right to stay away from you guys. I know I can’t do anything, but I just wanted to be here. Where’s Jack?”

Cassie pointed toward her bedroom. “Napping.”

“I could use one of those, actually.” I stretched and looked at Melissa. “But now that you’re here, should I go home?” I pushed off the couch and hoped like hell I could still stay. I really hadn’t planned on leaving anytime soon.

“No, no. Of course not. You can still stay in my room,” Melissa said, and I breathed out in relief.

“Thank God. I wasn’t ready to see Gran and Gramps yet,” I admitted.