The path to the mansion was narrow and dimly lit, flanked by tall hedges that rose like dark walls on either side. Vanessa and Kelly walked in silence behind Stormzy and his men, their boots crunching faintly against the gravel. The air carried the faint scent of damp soil and pine.
Stormzy led the way confidently, his broad shoulders blocking most of the narrow path, while his men flanked him in a loose formation. Vanessa's sharp eyes scanned everything as they moved. The men carried themselves differently than the last time she had seen Stormzy's crew. Their pace was measured, almost rehearsed. Their eyes didn't wander; instead, they kept focused straight ahead. They didn't speak, not even with each other.
