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She waded in. Touched the third guy on his shoulder. He turned as Darcy kicked out, slamming him to the floor. “Stay there,” she suggested.

The second guy went down as easily, a punch to the solar plexus and a chop to the back of the neck. That just left the one grappling against the wall with Matt. She approached cautiously, not wanting to get caught by one of his madly flailing arms. She studied them for a moment, then hooked one foot around the bad guy’s leg, pulling him off balance. He released his hold on Matt, turned, pulled back his fist, but then stopped as he took in his attacker.

“Get the fuck away from him,” she growled.

He looked her up and down. “I don’t fight girls.”

“No, you just beat them up.” She so wanted to hurt this guy. But she’d done enough, and if she got caught, she’d risk her parole. Suddenly, she grinned. Because she’d controlled her anger, not the other way around. Whatever else came out of this fiasco, she could take that with her. “Piss off and take your friends with you.” She didn’t bother to watch as they moved away. Instead, she switched her attention to Matt.

He gave her a wide, beatific smile. “My hero,” he slurred, then slid down the wall to the floor, his eyes closed. She sank down next to him, felt his pulse, which was slow but strong.

“If it’s any consolation,” Angie said from behind her, “I don’t think he’s hurt. I think he’s passed out.”

A car pulled up beside them, and the front door opened just as Matt lifted his head and his lashes flickered. He was coming around.

“Take him home,” she said.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“No. As you once told me, I’m a bad influence.”

She turned and walked away, but then paused as she passed the blonde. After delving into her bag, she pulled out a business card and handed it to the woman. “Make this mean something,” she said. “I’m giving free self-defense classes. Come and sign up.”

And she was out of there.