His response was immediate, a mix of warmth and steel. “I’ll be there in twenty.”

I hung up, feeling a surge of anticipation and vindication. The world was about to see a side of me they never had, and I was ready for it.

Minutes passed, each one an eternity, but finally, the low rumble of engines cut through the night. My heart skipped at the sight of the sleek convoy—three black SUVs gliding toward the entrance, their polished surfaces reflecting the moonlight.