It was then she made her move. As she flung the door wide open, he glanced up, astonished to see her there. “What the devil do you want?” Crudely staring her up and down, he laughed out loud. “All glammed up and nowhere to go, eh?”

Closing the door behind her, she boldly approached him, determination etched in the set of her features. “I want to know why you took on another singer.”

“Because I’m done with you, isn’t that reason enough?” His spite was cutting. “I needed a new face, a younger woman who would know better than to come crying to me, after she’s been knocked up by some other bloke who’s cleared off and left her in the lurch.”

“I was never with any other bloke, and you know it.” It was time to speak her mind and to hell with it. “It’s your child, Steve. The reason you won’t admit to it, is because it might hamper your precious lifestyle with a woman and child in tow.”

“You’ve said enough. Now get out!” Taking a step toward her, he gestured to the door. “You’re a dirty little tart, and everyone will know it soon enough. And even if this… thing…” repulsed, he prodded her in the stomach, “even if it is mine, which it most definitely is not, you and I both know I would never admit to it.”

“Tell me why not.” Hurt and angry, she stood up to him. “I need an explanation. You owe me that much.”

“I don’t owe you anything! The hard truth is, you’ve had your fun and now it’s over. It wouldn’t bother me if I never clapped eyes on you again. What would I want with you anyway? Like I said – you’ve had your day. It’s time to move over for someone more talented.”

Maddy understood his thinking. By “talented,” he meant young and pliable.

She stood her ground. “You can try every which way you like to get out of it, but in the end I promise, you’ll be made to face the consequences. You know as well as I do, I never loved anyone but you. And now, you want rid of me. All right, that’s your choice.”

Looking him straight in the eye, she calmly warned him, “I also have a choice, so understand this: whatever happens between the two of us, I will not let our child grow up without knowing who their father is.”

The smile slid from his face. “Are you threatening me?”

Unflinching beneath his hostile gaze, she promised, “I’ll do whatever it takes, to give our child a name. I’ll make sure it’s common knowledge that you’re the father, and that through no fault of ours, you’ve washed your hands of us.”

She smiled at the look of disbelief on his face. “You wouldn’t like that, would you, eh? The great Steve Drayton – no one ever got one over on him, did they? But I give you my word, I’ll fight tooth and nail, until you’re made to admit that you’re our baby’s father. I’ll make you take your responsibilities seriously, you see if I don’t!”

No sooner had she finished issuing the warning than she felt the full force of his fist, and when her lip split open and the blood spattered over his hands, he was like a madman.

“Bitch!” Ripping at her new dress, he tore it from neck to waist, leaving her desperately clutching the remnants with both hands. “I’ve seen off more threats and danger than you could ever imagine. So don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll come out on top, lady, because you won’t.”

Holding her trapped with one hand, he fished into her evening bag, drew out the keys to the flat and thrust them into his pocket. “You won’t be needing these again.”

When she struggled to get away, he held her there. “I swear to God, if you show your face here again, or try to get in touch with me, I’ll have you done away with. Make no mistake, I will do it!” Taking her by the arm, he dragged her through the door and down the back stairway; halfway down, with one great heave, he sent her careering down the remaining steps.

Then, coming down the steps two at a time, he went after her, grabbed her by the neck and threw her out onto the back alley, tossing her handbag after her. Wiping his hands together as though ridding himself of something dirty, he warned her, “If you bother me again, I won’t hesitate to have you and the kid set in concrete. Do you hear what I’m saying?” When she didn’t answer, he raised his foot and kicked her in the groin. “DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID!”

With her lip swelling, and her body bruised and battered, she could only nod, which thankfully was enough to appease him.

And then he was gone; only at the top of the stairs did he momentarily turn, to look down on the fallen woman with contempt.

Through tears of shame, Maddy watched him go, and for a moment she felt nothing, no hatred or desire for revenge; all the love she once felt for him was as though it had never been.

After a while, she levered herself up and felt her way along the wall, managing to stumble a short distance. Just when she was beginning to believe she might make it to safety, the wall caved into a doorway; she fell inside, and for a moment she feared as though she might never be able to get up. Faintly, she could hear the sound of a Latin beat coming through the wall, as the club carried on with its usual Saturday-night party mood. But for Madeleine Delaney, the party was well and truly over.

When she made an effort to stand, her legs crumpled beneath her. “Alice!” Twice she sobbed out her friend’s name, before her senses began to fade.

Yet somewhere in the dark recesses of her mind, she drew strength from the knowledge that Alice was never far away.

Six

Though it was only minutes, it seemed an age before she opened her eyes. She must have passed out, she thought. The cold was numbing; and even when she drew the fragments of her dress about her, she could not stop trembling.

With determination, she took stock of the damage Steve had done to her. She had taken a hard beating, yet she was relieved to find she could move her arms and legs, and thankfully, she still had her wits about her.

She slid the tips of her fingers over her face; it was bruised, and the cuts from yesterday had reopened, but as far as she could tell, nothing was broken.

Her fears were for the child inside her. Was it harmed in any way? Had he hurt the baby when he had kicked her in the groin? How could she tell? She needed help… she had to get away from here.

Thankfully, her legs took the weight when she uprighted herself. It was then that she heard a flurry of girlish giggling, and a voice asking, “Why are we out here? It’s so much cozier in your office, Stevie.”

Steve Drayton’s low, thick voice was unmistakable. “Too many interruptions,” he said huskily, “but you needn’t worry about the cold.” There was a sexy chuckle. “I’ll keep you warm enough, I can promise you that.”

There was a moment of silence, then another burst of giggling and the man’s voice urging her to, “Keep quiet, eh? We don’t want them coming out to see what’s going on, do we?”

“Was it true, what you said earlier?”

“You’d best remind me.” His voice was soft and persuasive, and then there was the wet, smacking sound of a long kiss. “What was it I said?”

“That you’d never seen anyone as beautiful as me, and that you would always look after me – even when I’m older and not so pretty.”

“Hmh!” His laughter echoed through the alley. “You really are a little worrier, aren’t you? Well, you can stop worrying, because I meant every word.” Steve Drayton had enough experience to know that a little flattery and a few cleverly placed lies would melt any young fool like her.

“And what about…” the girl hesitated, “the singer before me – the one they called Songbird.” She paused again. “Did you say all these things to her?”

“Never!” Maddy heard him light a cigarette, the soft glow from the lighter flickering through the darkness. “Why would I say those things to her? She meant nothing to me.”