Free Fight For Her (Soldiers in Arms Book 1) by J.A. Bailey, Phoenix James

Rocco wouldn’t play that kind of trick on him without a good reason. He snorted. “I think they were trying to get me here. Assholes.”
    “Well those assholes were right to.”
    “What’s going on?”
    She held up her palms. “Before I say, please don’t go running off, ready to kill everyone in sight. Waverly needs you in one piece and not locked up for assault.”
    He nodded, his jaw tight.
    “Her ex-fiancé turned up today.”
    Walker clenched his fists. “And she’s with him?”
    “Yes.”
    “Is she going back to him?”
    Justice shook her head and Walker felt the air leave his lungs.
    “There’s no way she will, Walker. She’s had a taste of freedom and she loves it. She was even talking about staying but didn’t know if she could bear being so near you.”
    “Damn it. So why is she with this guy?”
    “He came in here, all suited up. He looked like an asshole, Walker, I tell you. He demanded to talk to her. Said it was about the baby’s future. I told her I’d kick him out if she needed me to, but she said she wanted to talk to him, to at least put the past to rest.”
    “Where did they go?”
    “Just to the Rise and Grind coffeehouse.”
    He released a breath. At least it was a public place. The tightness in his stomach didn’t ease but Waverly wasn’t stupid enough to put herself in danger. Something about this fiancé turning up didn’t feel right to him, however. Why now? And how did he find her?
    “I’m going to find her. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
    Justice nodded, relief on her face. “Good. He was a slimy asshole, Walker. I don’t think he could persuade Waverly to come back with him but…I don’t know…if he threatened the baby or something, she’d do what she had to to protect it.”
    He nodded. From what Waverly had told him, the fiancé and her father were as bad as each other, always trying to manipulate her. What if they wanted to manipulate her into returning? He had at least been there to watch over her, even if he couldn’t talk her into staying.
    Pausing, he asked, “Was she really thinking of staying?”
    She nodded. “I’d offered her a better position here. She said she’d think about it. Honestly, I think she would if you two made up, but it was too painful for her if you didn’t.”
    “Can’t say I felt any better about the prospect,” he grumbled.
    “Well, you’d better go tell her that then.”
    Walker nodded and gave Justice a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”
    “Bring that girl back. Won’t be the same without her.”
    “I will.”
    He wasted no time in heading down the street to the coffeehouse. Pausing outside of the window, he peered in. No sign of her or the asshole. He strode in and checked all the booths. Donna, one of the waitresses, flashed him a smile.
    “How’s it going, Walker?”
    “Has Waverly been in today?”
    “Oh yes. She was with some guy. Didn’t recognize him.” She cracked the piece of gum she was chewing. “He was pretty sexy.”
    Walker clenched his jaw. “Do you know where they went?”
    Her grin widened. “Guess it’s true then.”
    “What’s true?”
    “One of you has finally fallen. We all knew it was only a matter of time.”
    He didn’t argue with her. He had fallen. Hard. Probably from the moment he’d first seen her.
    “Donna, where did she go?”
    “I don’t know, honey. He muttered something about needing to show her something in private, then they left.”
    “Fuck.”
    “She didn’t seem concerned. I’d have stepped in if I thought he was trouble.” Donna tucked her lip under her teeth.  “Do you think he is?”
    Walker nodded. “He’s her ex-fiancé and he treated her very, very badly.”
    “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
    “I’ve gotta find her.”
    “Stay safe,” Donna called when he raced out of the door of the coffeehouse.
    As he got on the bike, he stilled at the sound of raised voices. His heart slammed against his ribs.
    Waverly.
    He