"He ain't gonna hurtcha… if you don't yell," Rick said with a grin.

On the way to the convent, the nuns learned these men tried to assassinate a Spanish official in downtown Los Angeles. They had failed, but were planning to try again in a few days. For the moment they had to find a safe place near the Spanish consulate. The nuns' convent presented an ideal place of refuge from the police. The political office had been on the escape route from the hit spot.

"How many inside?" Jack asked as the van rolled up behind the massive three-story Gothic building. The church was just across the street. How good and comforting it looked now!

"Eight. It's a small order," Sister Mary Theresa confessed.

"Okay," he said tensely, glancing at his watch. Rick moved the van cautiously along the alleyway, stopping at the rear door of the convent.

"You stash the van where we agreed. Me, Rico and Joe'll take the place. Don't think we'll have any problems. And when we get inside, you can tell your fuckin' Mother Superior, or whatever the hell she is, I don't give a fuck about shootin' nuns, understand?"

Sister Mary Theresa nodded her head up and down rapidly. The operation was fast. The four nuns were shoved roughly from the van and nearly thrown into the back of the convent. Three nuns were in the kitchen cooking when the assault began. There were screams that ended quickly when Jack and Rico painted the automatic rifles at their heads. In minutes the men, had subdued the women, breaking them up into groups of three and herding them into separate rooms.

"I want this one for a while," Jack said, wiping his thick sensuous lips with the back of his right hand.

Sister Mary Theresa leaned against Mother Superior, holding the older woman's trembling hand with hers.

"Give me strength, Mother. Pray for me," the young nun whispered. She was shivering as Jack stared hotly at her. The other men were grinning from ear to car, their rifles dangling from their armpits. Jack smirked at the young nun, touching one leg with the tip of his weapon and laughing as she jumped and shuddered. The cold metal made the woman's flesh crawl.