Then she spotted the knife in the man’s hand and his hostile eyes piercing through her. Still holding her tightly from behind, David hissed into her ear, ‘Keep your mouth shut and he won’t touch you but if you squeal you’ve fuckin’ had it!’

Adele was unable to speak. His hand was still covering her mouth. So she merely nodded in agreement.

‘Right,’ said David. ‘This is a message for your brother and I want you to make sure he gets every fuckin’ word. OK?’

Again she nodded.

‘Tell him we’ve just taken over two of his clubs: Angels and Bramleys. Our men are on the fuckin’ door now. Do you get that?’

He took his hand from Adele’s mouth so she could speak. ‘I don’t work for him anymore,’ she said, almost pleading.

‘I don’t give a fuck who you work for! Give your brother this message and tell him that we won’t be fuckin’ paid off any more. Do you understand?’

‘Yes,’ said Adele.

‘Right, well make sure you take that fuckin’ message to him. It’s about time he knew how the land lies.’

‘OK,’ said Adele, her fear evident from the tremble in her voice.

‘And tell him that we know where you fuckin’ live now, so he’d better back off if he knows what’s good for him.’

He let go of Adele, and pushed her towards the steps where she landed face first, with her belongings scattered around her.

Once she had heard them dash off into the distance Adele struggled back to her feet, her legs shaking. Then she picked up her things. Her knees were bloody and smeared with dust and her hands were sore and dotted with tiny stones. She wiped her trembling hands down her clothing and set about finding the key.

As soon as she was back inside her flat she slid the bolt on the door, dropped down onto her knees and wept. The encounter had shaken her badly. And now, even more than before, she feared for her future.

Chapter 46

Adele couldn’t settle. The adrenalin coursed through her body as she kept reliving what had just happened. She couldn’t understand how on earth David and that other man knew where she lived. They must have followed her from work. She got up to check the window locks for the third time since she had been home. Then she looked out over the street, making sure nobody was watching her.

It was no good. She couldn’t go on like this. She thought about ringing the police but, after what Glynn had revealed previously, she was worried that it might land Peter in a whole heap of trouble. For some minutes she deliberated. Did he really deserve her protection, considering what he was involved in and the fact that it had put her at risk?