For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,190

traumatized for days over it. So if they're going to hunt someone here, I'd rather it was me than Dez."

The air fell from his lungs. "That's why you're doing this?"

"No, I'm doing it because Leila sent me a message. Because some kid on the internet was taking a picture of herself wearing makeup for the first time instead of putting a gun in her mouth. Because my post was enough to make sure that her arms will never end up looking like mine!"

Braden took a step back, then another, until he could drop down onto the bed. "Shit."

"I want to do this because all over the world, there are people who honestly believe that death would be better than waking up, and I might be able to change their minds. If KoG wants to come after me, I know that you'll be right there to keep me safe, Braden. You, and Dez, and Jason, and Psyc, and everyone else who's stepped up when I needed it most. This place has given me an army, and I am so fucking tired of being the damsel in distress. I want to be the hero, and I don't know how, but I'll figure it out before noon tomorrow."

He nodded. "Then I'll help you."

She had to stop and replay that, because she was sure she'd heard him wrong. "You will?"

"Always, baby. Even when I don't agree. Rhaven, I think this is a bad idea. I think you're risking yourself and it scares the shit out of me. I think those people out there are crazy, and not all of them are that way because of KoG, but they'll still try to hurt you. They don't know anything but hate, and you'll be the only one to pay for it. I also get it, ok? This means everything to you, and so it means everything to me."

"Yeah?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm not saying I'll smile and nod, because I will tell you what I think, but I'll also be right there to give you a hand every step of the way."

"I love you," she breathed, the words falling out of her mouth.

His head snapped up. "What? Really?"

She hadn't meant to say that. It had kinda just happened, but it was true, so she jiggled her head. "Bad timing?"

"Fuck," he breathed, pushing to his feet and crossing the room toward her in two steps. "There's never a bad time to tell me that. Fuck, baby. I have loved you for a while, I just didn't want to push. You're really in love with me?"

She just wrapped her arms around his neck and let him hug her. "I love you," she said again, enjoying it this time. "I am in love for the first time in my life." And it felt absolutely amazing.

He chuckled beside her ear. "Well, guess I really have to help now, huh? That's kinda fighting dirty, but I'm so ok with it." Then he leaned back to see her face. "Just don't leave me, Rhaven. Because if they kidnap you from the parking lot, I'm gonna hunt you down and steal you back. You're my girl, damn it."

"Oh, just yours," she teased.

His lips spread into a boyish grin. "Nope. Already proved that I can share my toys. Now kiss me and we'll start on some talking points, ok?"

He barely finished that before her mouth was on his. Braden took a step, pushing her back, and together they found the wall, needing it to hold them up. He loved her. She loved him. That meant this would all be ok, because together, they would never, ever be alone.

Chapter 62

She and Braden stayed at the warehouse again that night. She made a point of calling both her father and brother to make sure they would watch the news. Braden arranged for Doris to take care of Dammit, but said he'd need to buy her some wine to thank her for cleaning his cat's litter box. Rhaven actually thought that was adorable.

But at three in the morning, they were "relieved of duty" by Dez, and told to get some sleep before the press conference. The reality was that Braden spent at least another hour helping her type up her speech on her phone so she'd have something to keep her on track. His alarm went off at nine the next morning, proving it was time to start all over.

That was the only reason that she was clean and dressed when Amy banged on the door at ten.