For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,59

Murder. Knock's locking down the house and animals and calling his crew up to take over." He chuckled. "Sounds like a madhouse, but it's time. Ryan's on his way."

In the background, a woman squealed. "We need to pack."

Cynister just chuckled. "So, yeah. Um, Pantomime's going to be the godmother, and sounds like I'm the godfather. I'm going dark for a few hours and we're flying to Texas, and then straight to Denver."

"You're still going?" Rhaven asked.

"Yeah, babe," he assured her. "Work, and all that. Knock's whatever they are will be stepping in to help Kitty and the farm."

"Are the others coming to Denver?" Psyc asked.

Cyn sighed. "Kitty wants them to, which means probably. Something about the farm, paychecks, and all that. Murder wants to take paternity leave, but she's nixed that. Said she didn't need a man's help, too much noise to sleep, and if they wake the baby, someone's going to die."

"Keep us updated?" Rhaven begged.

"Promise," he said. "Might be Zara popping in, but all three outfits want to know, and we're the messengers."

"Jason!" Zara yelled in the background. "Come on. Crysis needs to be walked, and I want you to get plane tickets. Log off already."

"And that's your taste of married life," Rhaven teased.

"So worth it," Cyn promised. "Ok, guys. I'm out. No news is good news, though."

"User has left the channel," the automated voice announced.

PsychoCut immediately laughed. "That poor kid. He's going to have half the world keeping an eye on him."

"Dude, that also means we'll be teaching him how to hide his porn," RuffDog pointed out.

"And with Cynister as a godfather?" Rhaven asked. "I mean, nothing is safe."

"He's going to grow up and be a cowboy," someone else joked. "Texas, horses, and that house? The only way he'll have to rebel is to be the one thing they aren't."

"Ever heard of a cowboy gamer?" Psyc asked.

"Could happen," RuffDog said.

"I wear boots and listen to country music," another guy admitted. "Don't have horses or anything, though. Still call myself a cowboy."

"No," Psyc teased. "Bro, I'm gonna have to boot you now. This is PsychoDreads, not Shit-Kickers Anonymous. Go grab a plane to make up for it."

"I'm dropping you en route," the man laughed.

"And Rhaven, your squad's riding with him." Psyc clapped his hands, the sound coming across his mic. "Let's move, people. Executive Pain and Paradox should be out of play for a bit, and it's time to turn this map yellow."

So Rhaven took over her group, issuing orders and class assignments. It helped. Mostly, it kept her mind off everything else for long enough that she could finally unwind. That twisting feeling in her guts was just starting to relax, and her kill to death ratio was looking good tonight. She had this.

Then, two bases later, Psyc accidentally ruined it all. "So, Rhaven? You know Riley's doing a girl gamers tournament in Denver?"

"What?" she asked.

"Mhm," he said. "I mean, might get cancelled if none of them show, but sounds like it. You playing? Gonna be a big segment about it on TGC. Could get you a sponsor."

Her breath caught. Her heart slammed to a stop and her throat closed. Even her character stopped moving because all she could think about was her brother asking if those things were streamed.

"I can't," she whispered.

But he heard. "Sure you can, babe."

"I can't!" she snapped. "Psyc, we all know I'm not a real girl."

"Fuck that!" Aviatur snapped. "You and Mime are our gamer girls, and you're as badass as QQ."

"No," she tried. "I mean, you know, because - "

"Because you're trans?" Psyc asked. "Still real, honey."

"Because that will come up!" she hissed.

"Thought you were out," RuffDog said.

"Doesn't mean she wants everyone to talk about it," Psyc countered. "Be kinda like me introducing you as the guy with the two-inch dick to everyone. I mean," and he mocked a reporter's voice, "next up we have the two-inch dick guy from PD, playing a light assault class. Can RuffDog compete with the real men if that's all he has?"

"Two inches works fine for me," RuffDog assured them. "All about how it's used, right?" Then he sighed. "How do we help, Rhaven?"

She flopped her hands, knowing they couldn't see it and not caring. "I dunno. Tell me how to explain this to my family? I'm kinda not out at home."

"Wait," Aviatur said. "You mean you're not sitting there in black lace lingerie looking all cute when you game?"

"No," she mumbled.

"And now I know this is a big deal," Psyc said, "because you didn't