All Chapters of SELFISH AMBITION : Chapter 41 - Chapter 46

I wake up to a dull headache at the forefront of my face. I roll over and embrace the warm sheets, then suddenly feel the urgent need to pee. My bare feet hit the cold tile and I realize they’re gritty and dirty from dancing the night before. Part of me can’t believe I danced for a bunch of men at a club. Another part of me feels a chip on my shoulder for finally doing something reckless and not feeling guilty about it. I make my way to the kitchen and reach for my phone. The screen lights up. My stomach drops. “Oh my god, did I really post that?” I tap the photo. There I am in that tight black dress, long dark hair falling over one shoulder, pale skin glowing under the neon lights, Zach smiling beside me like a proud idiot. I look good. Really good. Scrolling through the comments, I see the usual questions. “Where have you been? Has the bride made a return? Who’s the new beau?” One friend wrote, “Is that Zach from high school? Didn’t realize you guys were still friends.” Another

Reeds POV I’m not playing anymore games. I slam my shoulder full force into the door and the frame gives with a loud crack. Zach barely has time to stand before I’m on him fuming with rage. My one hand fists in his shirt and I drive him back against the wall hard enough that the drywall dents. Cocking my other hand back to unleash my frustration. By slamming my punch through the drywall next to his head. Zach is like a brother to me I don’t want to hurt him but I also can’t believe that he would do any of this without a damn good explanation. “Where the fuck is she?” I seethe with my jaw clenched. Eyes locked on him like a fixed target. He looks up and sighs like he’s begging for mercy mercy, which I’m in no mood to give right now. Then shoves me off with a quick slam to my chest and swings a right hook. Clever bastard. The punch lands solid on my jaw and pain stings red. “So it’s like that Zach? Really. If you want to play games I’ve got nothing better to do right now. But you

Reeds POV The GPS blinks on Zach’s screen, a blue dot crawling across the map toward the river. Emily’s phone. Still moving. “She’s at the club,” Zach says, eyes locked on the screen. “We’re close. Five minutes, maybe less.” I don’t answer. My hands are tight on the wheel, knuckles white, and the road is a blur under the tires. The storm’s rolling in, dark clouds stacked on the horizon, wind shoving the car sideways, but I don’t slow down. I can’t. “Reed.” Zach’s voice cuts through. “Breathe.” “I’m breathing.” “You’re not.” He glances at me, then back at the screen. “We get there, we get her, we get out. No heroics. ” “No heroics,” I repeat, but it’s a lie and we both know it. The club appears on the rise ahead, white columns, manicured lawns, the flag snapping hard in the wind. I take the turn too fast, tires screaming, and pull into the lot. Zach’s already out before I kill the engine, laptop under his arm, scanning. “Her car’s still here,” he says, pointing. “Blac