and making things difficult for Tina than he was about getting to her and ensuring she was okay.
He had no idea what he would find when he got there. “The shit finally hit the fan” could mean lots of things.
One glance at Tina, and it was obvious she was upset. Her skin was pale; her eyes were puffy and red. If her appearance hadn’t tipped him off, her greeting would have. The moment she saw him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his neck.
“Hey now,” he said soothingly, cupping the back of her head.
She squeezed him tighter.
“How did you know?” she asked, her words muffled.
“Your grandmother called me. She’s worried about you.”
Tina released him, took his hand, and tugged him inside. “How much did she tell you?”
“Not much. She said the shit hit the fan and Friedrich hid the keys to the Buick.”
“More like he auctioned it off behind her back and doesn’t have the balls to tell her,” Tina practically growled. “Not that it’s going to make a difference. They lost everything, Doc. They bet the farm, and they lost. Everything.”
“Tell me.”
“I will but not here, okay? I’m afraid Rick’s going to show up, and if he does, I might just shoot him.”
“All right. Want to come back to Sanctuary with me?”
She looked relieved. “Yes, please. Give me a minute. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”
“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
With a grateful look, Tina went up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek before disappearing into her bedroom. Moments later, he heard drawers opening. Doc remained by the window, his eyes watching the access road for any sign of her brother, and fired off a text to Lottie.
Doc: Tina’s fine. I’m taking her back to Sanctuary with me.
Lottie: Good. Keep her there for a while.
Doc: What about you?
Lottie: Sweet boy. I’ll be fine. Tell Tina to call me later.
Doc: Will do.
Tina emerged from her bedroom with a carry-on bag. “I don’t mean to be presumptuous. If this makes you uncomfortable, I can get a hotel room or something.”
“It doesn’t,” he told her honestly. He wanted her with him. If the time he’d spent with her thus far made anything clear, it was that he would much rather be with her than without.
Tina locked up the cottage. Instead of getting into his vehicle, she went to her truck. “I’ll follow you, okay? That way, you don’t have to bring me back in the morning.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I know.”
She didn’t take him up on his offer, so he let it go. If it made her feel better to have her truck, so be it.
When they arrived at Sanctuary, Doc drove directly to his trailer. Tina pulled up and parked alongside him. He took her bag and carried it inside, just in case she was serious about going to a hotel.
“Have you eaten?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Not recently. It’s been a day.”
“How about I go over to the dining room and bring something back?”
She hesitated. “Don’t go to any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble. I haven’t eaten yet either. Might as well get something for both of us, right?”
Her eyes softened, and for a moment, it looked like she was going to cry. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We have no set schedule here. Kate keeps the kitchen well stocked. There’s always something on hand.”
She sniffled. “In that case, yes, please.”
“Make yourself at home. I’ll be back shortly.”
Doc hightailed his way to the main building, anxious to pick up some food and get back to Tina as quickly as possible. She looked drained, both physically and emotionally, and the need to take care of her was strong.
First, he’d make sure she had a decent meal. Then, he’d find out what had her so upset and do whatever he could to fix it. Or kill it. Whatever.
Doc looked up at the security camera outside the main entrance and simply said, “Kitchen.”
If anyone was in the war room, they’d get the message. If not, he’d catch them up later.
It was Church who came into the kitchen while Doc was raiding the fridge.
“Cage said you got a distress call from Tina’s grandmother?”
“Yes. Tina’s fine, just upset. She’ll be staying with me tonight,” Doc told him. Longer, if he had his way.
“Did she tell you what went down?”
“Not yet. Why? Do you know something?”
“Nothing definite. Cage is in the process of getting the eye in the sky in place, but there’s been another development that might or might