All Chapters of His Name Is Kenai: Now I Own You, Little Sister: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

SHANNON.My eyelids felt heavy, like someone had pressed weights behind them.For a few seconds, I didn’t even remember where I was. The ceiling looked unfamiliar in the morning light. My mind was foggy, like I’d just come out of anesthesia.Then, it all rushed back.The juice.The dizziness.The voice.“Hello, dear sister.”My whole body jerked as I shot upright in bed. The sheets tangled around my legs, my heart slamming so hard against my ribs I could hear the blood in my ears.It wasn’t real.It couldn’t be real.My eyes darted around the room. Everything looked… normal. Way too normal.The curtains were drawn halfway open.The night lamp was off.The juice pack was gone. Completely gone.I blinked hard several times.My breathing came in short bursts as my gaze scanned the table, the floor, the trash bin — nothing.Not even a crumpled cap or a drop of spilled juice.I ran my tongue over my lips. The faint sweetness was still there. Or maybe I imagined it. I didn’t know anymore.M

SHANNON.“What… what are you talking about? George? My love!”My voice came out high and cracked, like it belonged to someone else.He sounded like he’d been crying. My chest squeezed painfully at the sound. I pressed the phone tighter to my ear, desperate to bridge whatever distance was between us.“Please, baby, calm down. Tell me what’s going on,” I whispered, already crying. “Talk to me. Please.”Then his voice came through again, low and broken.“They think I stole the money. From the Charlotte project,” he said, his voice trembling. “They think I embezzled the funds.”I froze. “What funds, George? How much are we talking about?”He hesitated, and the silence was killing me. “Two million dollars,” he whispered.I almost choked on air. “What... George, no... no, that’s impossible.”“I didn’t do it, Shannon.” His voice cracked. “I swear to God, I didn’t. They said the transfer was done from my office. My signature was on the documents. But I... I never signed anything. I don’t reme

SHANNON.By the time the bus rolled into North Carolina, the sun was low and angry in the sky, its last light cutting through the grime on the windows.4:40 PM.I was out of my seat before the bus fully stopped, clutching my small duffel so tight that the handles bit into my palm. My legs ached, my back screamed, and my head felt stuffed with wool, but none of it mattered. I was here. Finally.I ran across the terminal, weaving through strangers, ignoring the stares. My reflection in the glass doors told me exactly what they were seeing — a woman unraveling. My hair was a tangled mess, my skin slick with sweat and travel, and my blouse wrinkled beyond saving. I smelled like exhaustion and panic.No bath. No brush. No food.Just desperation.I’d called ahead and actually begged until someone at the department told me where they were holding George. Station Four, just off Crescent Avenue. I didn’t even stop to breathe when I got there.The place was small, square, and really quiet. A si

KENAI.I had the officer fired this morning.The one who let her see him.He was too soft. I could tell from the first time I watched him talk to her — all sympathy and weak eyes. Men like that disgust me. They forget rules the moment a woman cries.He begged when he got the call. Said it was a mistake. Said she “looked desperate.”But I don’t negotiate with incompetence. I told him desperation wasn’t an excuse for stupidity.By noon, his badge was on his boss's desk.It felt good.She had no idea what was coming.If she thought George’s arrest was the start, and that her little world is falling apart because of one accusation, she’s not paying attention.That’s only the first crack.The first fracture before everything caves in.Everything after that — her job, her home, her comfort — will unravel the same way. Slowly and quietly, until there’s nothing left standing but the truth she’s been running from… Me.She thinks losing her husband and best friend will be the worst part?She ha

SHANNON.Every instinct in me screamed at how wrong this felt. A tiny voice kept yelling at me to turn around and leave.By the time I realized how fast my heart was beating, I was standing in front of the large, prestigious hotel where Mr. Grayson had asked me to meet him.It was the kind of place people walk into wearing confidence and money. Not nerves and second-hand anxiety like I was trying to do.I kept telling myself there was nothing strange about this. Maybe this was just where he preferred to hold private meetings. I mean... Where else would he meet his fired employee? In his house? Of course, not.Since he wasn't even at the office, and I just officially lost my job, this was obviously the next best place to meet him.As I walked to the reception, my mind drifted back to Valerie. I'll stop by the police station again the moment I am done with my meeting."Room 517," I said after greeting the lady at the reception.She smiled brightly, almost too excited to see me. “Of cour