Angel stood there staring after it, aware that she was sweating lightly and that her heart was beating madly in her chest.

‘Who was that?’ asked a male voice behind her.

Angel let out a shriek and whirled around. It was Cory, standing there by the back entrance to the club, smiling at her. Angel took a calming breath and walked back over to him.

‘Sorry, did I make you jump?’ said Cory, pulling her into his arms. He looked into her eyes. ‘Hey, you’re trembling.’

‘I just didn’t expect to see you, that’s all,’ she said.

‘Thought I’d pop in and cadge a lift home with you. You OK?’ He was stroking her back, his voice taut with concern.

‘I’m fine,’ said Angel, hugging him, thinking she was so lucky to have him.

‘So who was that in the fancy car?’

‘Just an old friend of mine. She’s moving away. In fact . . .’

‘What?’

‘I doubt I’ll ever see her again,’ said Angel, and leaned in for a kiss.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

The Knock is a story that details abuse suffered by one woman and her daughter. It’s fiction, but sadly such instances occur in real life too. Abuse can be very subtle or very direct. A partner can be excessively jealous and possessive, charming one minute and abusive the next. Controlling behaviour – separating you from your family and friends, criticizing, taking charge of money, these are all traits of an abuser.

I am very proud to be a supporter of Refuge, who offer help to women and children who have suffered domestic violence.

If you feel you are a victim of domestic violence, please contact www.refuge.co.uk or Freephone their Helpline: 0808 2000 247.

NAMELESS

JESSIE KEANE

They took her children away, and she will fight to the end to get them back . . .

In 1923, mixed-race Ruby Darke is born into a family that seems to hate her, but why?

While her two brothers dive into a life of gangland violence, Ruby has to work in their family store. As she blossoms into a beautiful young woman, she crosses paths with aristocrat Cornelius Bray, a chance meeting that will change her life forever. When she finds herself pregnant, and then has twins, she is forced to give her children away. At that point she vows never to trust another man again.

As the years pass, Ruby never forgets her babies, and as the family store turns into a retail empire, she wants her children back. But secrets were whispered and bargains made, and if Ruby wants to stay alive she needs to forget the past, or it will come back and kill her.

Nameless is a gripping underworld thriller by bestselling author Jessie Keane.

LAWLESS

JESSIE KEANE

Only the lawless will survive . . .

It is 1975 and Ruby Darke is struggling to deal with the brutal murder of her lover, Michael Ward.

As her children, Daisy and Kit, battle their own demons, her retail empire starts to crumble.