“Oh.” All of that seems clear and reasonable and perfectly natural. “So you knew they had me, but how did you know where they’d be heading?”
“We’ve had our eyes on those assholes for a while. We were thinking about taking them out anyway when we had a good opportunity. So we knew where their normal hangout was, and we knew what route they’d take to get there. The plan was pretty rushed, but we had very little time. If we hadn’t already been gathered up here at the cave, we wouldn’t have been able to ambush them like that.”
“I see.” My brows are lowered as I try to think rationally. “Thank you. For… for coming to save me. For bringing your crew to help. I… I was preparing for the worst.”
“I know you were. I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to get there sooner.”
“It was soon enough. For me, at least. Not for poor Pete.” My shoulders shake slightly as I remember again, but I force it back to a corner of my mind. I simply don’t have the resources to deal with that right now. “But thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’d’ve done a hell of a lot more to keep you safe.”
I love hearing those words. Love that he’s willing to say them. But there are other questions that need answers right now. “So you’re… you’re the Silver Wolf?”
“Yes.” He’s gruff and soft. “Yes, I am.”
“For… for how long?”
“For a year. Ever since our town flooded out and we had to come farther west. We didn’t know anything about what was going on in this area when we arrived, so we found this cave to hide out in until we knew if it was safe to try to make a life in a town.”
“But how did you start…”
“We had no food. No supplies. Nothing. So I’d wait on the side of the highway and hit groups of assholes like the ones who took you. We could get provisions that way, and the world is better off without them anyway. Eventually I had a few others join up with us so we could hit bigger targets. Then there were even more. Then when the militia took over this whole county, we had to start wearing masks. Because some of us are known down in town, and if anyone is identified, we all would be in danger.”
“I thought… I thought the Silver Wolf just stole from the militia.”
“Not only the militia. But it was hitting them that really grew the reputation. I know you might think it’s… it’s wrong… And it’s definitely dangerous. That’s why I was afraid to tell you.”
“Because you thought I would turn you in?”
“No! Never for a minute did I think that. I thought it would put you in danger, and no fucking way I’m ever gonna do that.”
I think about it for a long time. “Have you ever stolen from innocent people?”
“No. Never. I’ve always done everything I can to make sure the people we hit deserve it.”
I nod. I believe him. Even though this is nothing I could have ever predicted, it does feel like Cade.
“We don’t even keep everything anymore. We try to redistribute the extra to folks who need it.”
“Really?” I blink up at him. “Like Robin Hood?”
He chuckles. Cups one of my cheeks. “Yes. Kinda like Robin Hood.”
“Okay. That’s okay then.”
“Is it?”
“Y-yeah. I think so. I mean, I’ll think about it more when I feel better, but I can understand. Why you do it and why you didn’t tell me.” Then I think of something. “But who’s we?”
“We?”
“You saidwecame to this area after your town was flooded out.”
“Oh. Yeah. Me and a couple of my buddies and my folks.”
“Your folks? Your parents?”
“Yeah. You’re surprised?”
