Free Death by Beauty by Gabrielle Lord

of dollars after
     a meeting with Fayed. Which is total bullshit.’
    Gemma swore. ‘What are you going to do? How can you fight this thing? You’re going to have to find out what sort of a case
     they’ve got. Who’s going to believe Lorraine Litchfield, even if she did give a sworn statement?’
    ‘Fayed’s backing up her story. He’s besotted with her, plus he doesn’t have anything to lose. If he can help bring down a
     corrupt cop he’s got everything to gain. Like a lighter sentence next time. It’s in his interest to perjure himself about
     me.’
    ‘But he’s a career criminal! Who’s going to believe him?’
    ‘Better men than me have gone down because of this sort of situation. Gems, I’m in deep shit.’
    ‘I’ll do everything I can,’ said Gemma.
    Steve shook his head. ‘I didn’t come here for that, Gemma. I’m here to warn you. I’m worried now that she’s going to comeafter you as well – again. She didn’t get you last time, but now she’s out and boiling for revenge.’
    He stepped forward and took her hands. ‘I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you because of me.’
    ‘Don’t worry, Steve. I know how to look after myself.’
    As Gemma’s mind raced ahead of itself, trying to find solutions to a situation that hadn’t even happened yet, ugly memories
     surfaced … Steve acting undercover to trap a powerful criminal, taking on the role of Lorraine’s boyfriend … Lorraine becoming
     infatuated with him … The humiliating confrontation between the two women: Lorraine with her flawless skin and big blue eyes,
     big blonde hair, her perfect figure hugged by her powder-blue angora suit, balancing on impossible silver high heels, wielding
     a Colt M1911; Gemma dishevelled, face streaked with dirt, bloodless lips, still pale with shock from the way she’d been abducted
     by Lorraine’s bodyguards, forced to stand unsteadily in Lorraine’s mother-of-pearl encrusted living room while Lorraine aimed
     the gun and shrieked at Steve to choose between them … Steve’s response as he desperately tried to save Gemma’s life and his
     own: ‘Baby, look in the mirror. Look at her. Then look at you. There’s no contest. She means nothing to me.’ Lorraine lowering
     the M1911 and Gemma’s heart almost stopping.
    Gemma looked at Steve on the pier and remembered Lorraine’s later words, after realising the depth of Steve’s relationship
     with Gemma: ‘You’re
dead
, bitch!’
    Her later attempt on Gemma’s life had been thwarted, but now she was back, with vengeance on her mind.
    ‘She’s trying to destroy me,’ said Steve, ‘and it’s a dead certainty she’ll be coming after you too.’ He looked away out to
     sea and then back to Gemma. ‘This could be bad, Gems. Really bad.’
    His mobile rang. He answered it, grunted, and rang off. ‘I’ve got to go. There’s a legal guy I’ve finally tracked down and
     he has time to meet me tonight. I’ll grab a cab near the shops.’
    ‘Let me give you a lift. I’m heading to Kings Cross.’
    ‘But Rafi—’ Steve began.
    ‘Mike’s there and I’ll be home in an hour or so. Rafi will be fine.’
    ‘Mike’s a good man,’ said Steve quietly. ‘You’re better off without me.’
    She almost objected, but caught herself in time.

CHAPTER 7
    Gemma and Steve were silent during the drive to the Cross. Steve’s familiar bulk beside her in the passenger seat aroused
     all sorts of memories as AC/DC belted out another song. She turned the music up to try to force these memories from her mind.
    Steve’s hand shot forward to turn it down and he faced her, his features soft with tender regret. ‘Gemma, oh Gems, I wish—’
    ‘Don’t,’ she said, turning the music up again.

    Baroque Occasions appeared no different from the other terrace houses in the quiet road below Victoria Street at Potts Point
     – apart from the red light over the front door.
    Gemma reversed into a parking spot a few doors