As Jack trotted down the steps, the slim brunette had risen to her feet and was struggling with the older man who had at least a hundred-pound advantage. The expensive clothes, the good haircut, and the shiny, manicured nails didn’t go with the feral lust in his eyes.

Jack was within a dozen feet of them when she shouted, “I told you to get lost!”

“Now, now, sweetie pie,” he said through clenched teeth as he pulled her closer. “You don’t really mean that.”

“Wanna bet?”

She stabbed her lit cigarette at his eye. He jerked back and turned just enough to save his eye, but the burning end caught him solidly on one of his jowls. As he cried out in pain and raised his hands to his face, the young woman landed a forty-yard punt between his legs. The guy’s face went fish-belly white as he dropped to his knees, holding his crotch. She kicked him again, in the chest this time, and he pitched sideways and rolled down a few steps.

The woman whirled on Jack, snarling. “You want some of the same?”

Jack stopped and held his hands before him, palms out. “Peace, lady. Just coming to help.” He nodded to the battered man, prone on the steps, holding his crotch and groaning. “But you seem to have things under control.”

She gave him a quick smile. “Thanks for the thought.” She looked around at the melee. “What’s gotten into these creeps?”

“Damned if I know. Best if you just—”

“Jack!”

The fright in Gia’s voice spun him around and he was taking the steps up two at a time before it fully registered that she was struggling with two of the middle-aged yuppies.

“Hey!” he shouted as fire scorched through him.

Vicky batted at one of the men’s legs, screaming, “Leave my mommy alone!”

The man, whose round face and pushed-up nose reminded Jack of Porky Pig, turned and shoved Vicky away. “Get lost, kid!”

“No!” Vicky cried, and kicked him in the shin.

His face distorted with rage, the guy grabbed Vicky and lifted her off her feet. “You little bitch!”

Jack’s anger turned to panic as the man carried the screaming Vicky toward the end of the top landing. Jack veered away from Gia and poured every ounce of strength into his legs.

“I’ll teach you to kick me!” Porky shouted, raising her higher as he neared the edge.

Vicky’s terrified wail rose in pitch as she saw the stone steps sloping away before her. Jack reached them just as the man was flexing to fling her. He hooked Porky’s elbow, yanked him back and around, turning the guy and Vicky toward him. Jack swung his left arm around Vicky’s waist and smashed his right elbow into Porky’s startled face.

As the guy staggered back, Jack put Vicky down and advanced on him. With Vicky safe now, Jack’s rage had room to bloom. He let the darkness boil out of its cell and take over.