Flawed (Gamer Girls, #1)

by Auryn Hadley

"This award is for Dez and every woman who's had to suffer through the same thing. It's for the gamers who try to make a difference, regardless of gender. Most of all, this is for the guys out there who don't ignore it when they see or hear it. For the ones who speak up so I don't have to hide who I am. This is for the community because Deviant Games plans to make a place where we all can belong.

Yes, we know all about Destiny Pierce. We know she is the reason Silk is going to be the next best game. We also stand by all of her decisions and are so very glad she hasn't given up on the rest of us yet. Thank you, Dez. You're my hero. Get better, Sugar. We stand with you."

They hate her because she's better than all of us combined, and I won't fire her because she deserves to prove it to the world. Warped, broken, and bent all to hell, and she's still better than any of the boys in this club. I want to make sure the whole world knows that I didn't get here because I have a dick. We got Most Anticipated Game because Deviant has a brain."

"What are we doing?" Braden asked, grabbing a spatula and flipping slices of fish over. "First, eating. Second, you're helping me with these accounts. Third?" Dez took a long pull on the beer. "I'm going to make that bastard wish he'd never picked a fight with me. I'm tired of running. I'm tired of waiting for someone to save me. I'm fucking tired of being scared all the time. If he wants to make this a fight, then I'll fight – and for the first time in my life, I've got everything I need to make it a god damned world war."

You're not a damned dev. You're just some slut trying to impress the real gamers. Fuck you." "Shut up," Braden growled, grabbing the guy's arm. "Think whatever you want if it saves your damned pride, but you're still out a job, and she's still a better coder."

This man, the one buried inside her destroyed little body, was the one thing that kept her sane. He was what made her almost normal, and she loved him. She loved him like a real person, and it felt so damned good.

"I thought I was about to get fridged." "Nah." Chance smiled, but she could see he was trying to ignore the pain. "Sugar, girls like you don't get written out as some guy's motivation. You're the star. The Queen of the damned Flawed."