Chapter 18: The Storm Within

The sound of Johnny's brother's name on his lips was like a cold splash of water, jolting me awake. I could see the tension in Johnny's body, the way his jaw was clenched, and his eyes had narrowed. He ended the call quickly, and then turned to me, his gaze searching. "What is it?" I asked again, my voice firm this time. Johnny took a deep breath before speaking. "It's my brother, Alex. He's been investigating some... irregularities in the company, and I think he's gotten in over his head." He paused, his eyes locked on mine. "He's on his way here, and I have a feeling that we're in for a wild ride." The storm raging outside seemed to mirror the turmoil brewing inside me. I could feel the fear rising up, threatening to overwhelm me. Johnny's hands came up, and he cupped my face, his thumbs tracing the contours of my cheeks. "Hey, it's going to be okay," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "We'll face whatever it is together, okay?" I nodded, trying to draw comfort from his words, but my mind was racing. What kind of irregularities could Alex have uncovered? And what did it have to do with us? The sound of the rain pounding against the windows grew louder, and the lights flickered again. Johnny got up, and padded over to the window, his eyes scanning the darkness outside. I followed him, my heart pounding in my chest. As we stood there, a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, casting eerie shadows on the walls. And in that moment, I saw a figure standing under the awning of the parking lot. He was tall, and imposing, and his eyes seemed to be fixed on our window. "Johnny," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the storm. He turned to me, his eyes following mine to the window. And then he saw him too. The figure didn't move, didn't blink. He just stood there, his eyes fixed on us, like a predator sizing up its prey. Johnny's arm went around me, pulling me close. "That's Alex," he said, his voice low and tight. "And I think we're in trouble."