Razor's Edge by Shannon K. Butcher Page B

there.
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œYou had forgotten,” accused Reid. “Shit, Tanner, it’s not like we have all that many parties these days. If you don’t show, Mom will—”
    â€œI’m not going to make Mom cry again.” She’d done enough of that, both while he was away serving his country, and after the death of her husband and youngest son. “I said I’ll be there. I don’t need you—”
    â€œApparently you do. If I hadn’t mentioned it, you would have forgotten. Just like—”
    â€œThat was different. I was in another time zone. I called her on her birthday, just not in this part of the world.”
    â€œYou always have an excuse. There damn well better not be any more today.”
    â€œI said I’ll be there.”
    Reid stared at him for a minute before finally nodding, letting it go. “Bella said you’re assigned to Razor for a few days.”
    Tanner hesitated to confirm it, wondering how his brother could twist something so simple around and make him feel like more of an ass than he already did by forgetting Millie’s party. “That’s right.”
    Reid looked up and down the hallway, making sure they were alone. He lowered his voice, but the warning ringing in his tone was clear nonetheless. “Razor’s tough, but not as tough as she thinks. And she hates working with a partner.”
    While he could see her resistance to teamwork, Tanner thought she’d done well when faced with danger last night. She hadn’t lost her head or panicked. She’d used the weapon at her disposal and acted before it was too late. That soldier would have pulled the trigger. Had Roxanne hesitated, the O’Connell family would be mourning today instead of celebrating a birthday. “I think you might be underestimating her.”
    â€œI’m not. And you’d better not overestimate her. She’s been through hell.”
    â€œYou make it sound like the two of you are close.” And the thought made jealousy spread out through Tanner on rotten wings.
    Reid shrugged. “Not really. But there are a lot of rumors floating around about her and what happened to her when she was a kid.”
    â€œWhat kind of rumors?”
    â€œI’m not going to spread gossip. If you want to know, ask her. But I can tell you that she’s not tough like some of the other women Bella employs. That’s why you got guard dog duty. Even Bella knows she needs a keeper.”
    A slow, simmering anger began to build behind Tanner’s eyes. “I’m not sure if that’s more judgmental or condescending. You’ve taken a turn toward prick since I left.”
    â€œI’m a hell of a lot more realistic than I used to be. If that hurts your feelings, so be it, but you need to know what you’re dealing with. I put my neck on the line to get you this job. If you fuck it up, we could both be out—”
    â€œI’m not going to fuck up anything. I may have been a dumb, scrawny kid when I went into the military, but I’m no longer the baby brother you remember. I don’t need you to hold my hand anymore, so stop pretending the world will cease to exist without you.”
    Reid’s jaw clenched in anger. “While you were away doing whatever the hell you felt like, I was the one taking care of the family and—”
    â€œDoing whatever the hell I felt like? Is that what you think I was doing overseas? Lounging on a beach, drinking—”
    â€œMight as well have been for all the good it did the family. You were on leave for only three days after the accident. I was with Mom and Karen every day. I held them while they cried. I was there when Millie was born, because Brody couldn’t be. I’m the one keeping this family together, and now that you’re home, it’s my job to take care of you, too. If you won’t take my advice, fine, but don’t blame me when