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“The women are hungry and scared, Harry,” said Frances.

“Stop calling me that!”

“B-but that’s your name,” she said in a shaky voice. “I won’t call you Killer. That’s not who you are.”

He laughed so hard she thought perhaps he’d lost his sanity. When he stopped laughing, he gripped her face, turning her toward him.

“That is exactly who I am. I am a killer.” He turned her face left and right, staring at her. He needed a woman but there was nothing that appealed to him about this woman.

Opening the door, he left the cab of the truck and she heard him opening the door to the back. He was yelling at one of the girls and then she heard him close the door again. Almost afraid to get out, she walked around to the back and saw what he was doing.

The young woman’s nightdress was torn from her body and he had her lying in the dirt, punching her face as he unzipped his jeans.

“Wh-what are you doing? No! No, you can’t do that to her!” she yelled trying to pull him off of her. He shoved her down, kicking her.

“You don’t fucking tell me what I can and can’t do! Do you hear me? I am in charge here. Not you.”

“But I thought you and I would be together. Finally.”

“Oh, we will. But you will do what I tell you when I tell you. I will fuck as many women as I want and you will watch me.”

“No,” she said shaking her head. “No. We’re to be married. We’re to start a family.”

“Are you fucking daft? Did you fall on your head? We’re not doing any of that.”

Frances grabbed the arm of the young woman pulling her from beneath him. Just as he was about to reach for her and punch her again, the headlights of a limousine pulled into the vacant lot.

“You’re fucking lucky they just pulled up. Don’t move. So help me if you say one damn thing I will kill you.”

Frances didn’t understand what was happening. She tried to comfort the young girl but she was sobbing hysterically, holding tightly to the older woman.

He’d said that he loved her, that they’d start a family together. Why would he lie to her? She was helping him.

“Ferdinand, nice to see you,” he said zipping his jeans.

“Did you touch my merchandise?” asked Ferdinand looking around his shoulder.

“Just a little. Didn’t get to break her in yet.”

Ferdinand walked toward the young woman seeing her naked, bloodied body. He removed his coat and placed it over her shoulders. Killer stared at him wondering what the hell he was doing.

“Are you alright, child?” She shook her head and Frances stared at the man. “Did he harm you?”

The two women were so shocked by the conversation they couldn’t speak.

“I will not harm you,” he said. “Where did he find you?”

“We are Sisters, novices from the convent,” said the young girl.

Ferdinand nodded, then ordered his men to open the truck. The other young women squealed in fear, backing up in the truck. The men just raised their hands, shaking their heads.

“We won’t harm you,” said one of the men. “Come down from there and we’ll take you home.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” smirked Killer. “They’ll take you home to your daddy.”

Ferdinand turned to stare at him then took one step forward and backhanded him, sending him reeling to the ground. He jumped up, his fists balled ready to fight.

“You hit me again, I’ll kill you.” He wiped the blood from his lip, glaring at the man in front of him. For a moment, he doubted himself since he had no backup but at this point, he really didn’t care.

“No, you won’t,” said Ferdinand. “You’ve made many critical errors here. Many. You don’t have my motorcycles. That’s the number one issue I have. Those bikes were to be gifts for my men. No matter. I have placed an order for them.”

“What?” Killer frowned at the man wondering how he’d gotten away with placing an order for the bikes.

“Yes. I did it the correct way. Your other grave error is that you dared to touch children of God.”

“They’re just a bunch of virgin bitches. You’re going to break them in anyway.” Ferdinand shook his head, letting out a long sigh.

“You really should have done your homework on me. See, I was abandoned at a convent orphanage as a child. My mother, only fourteen, was raped by a guerilla fighter. The sisters raised me as their own. Treated me with kindness.

“Many years later, as I was establishing myself in business, a man dared to burn that convent down, killing many of the women who were my family. He lived to regret that choice.”

“So what? We all had rough childhoods. You sell bitches to other people. You sell drugs to other people. What the fuck does the source matter?”

“It matters a great deal,” he growled. “I will not touch women who choose to give their life to God. It may seem odd to you, but I am a man of faith and religion. I pray every day. I go to church. I give money. I help the poor. You may think we are the same, but we are not.”

There was a deafening silence in the empty lot as Killer was clearly trying to assess his options. He noticed that Frances was still staring at him, unsure of what to make of it all.

“Harry? Harry let’s just leave together,” she said.

“Are you fucking crazy? I’m not leaving with you now or ever. If I leave, I leave with the bitches in the truck.”

“No,” said the small voice behind Ferdinand’s men. “You can leave with me. But let them go.”

“Well, well, well,” he smirked. “Sister Agatha. Or should I call you something else now?”

“You and your son took my vocation from me by raping and beating me. I won’t allow my Christian name to pass over your lips.”

“So, what? I give you all these virgins and you come with me?”

“That’s the deal,” she said nodding.

“Naw. Naw, that ain’t how this works. I take all of you.”

“You missed the part where me and my men won’t allow this to happen,” said Ferdinand.

“Harry? Harry we can leave,” said Frances.

“Stop! For fuck’s sake, stop!” he screamed gripping the sides of his head. “You’re fucking crazy! I’m not going anywhere with you. I used you. Like I did thirty years ago. That’s all.”

“No,” she whispered. “You love me. That’s why you came back for me.”

“Sister Frances, he doesn’t love you or anyone. He doesn’t even love himself,” said Jenna.

“Bitch, you’re gonna die,” he growled.

“Come through me first,” said Nash. Killer scoffed, shaking his head and then noticed a few other shadowy figures.

“And me,” said Tailor.

“Don’t forget me,” smirked Alec. Then a chorus of ‘me’s was heard, Gabe, Antoine, Angel, Miller, and a dozen others showing up.

“You’re in with them?” he said staring at Ferdinand. “I’m sure your business associates would love to hear that you’re working with the very men that try to put you all away. You sure got strange friends.”

“We are in agreement on this one issue,” said Ferdinand. “You will not harm these young nuns. And, you will not live to see another day.”

“No! Don’t kill him,” said Frances stepping in front of him. Killer just laughed, pointing at her, mocking her behind her back.

“Sister Frances,” said Jenna softly, “he’s using you. He’s using your emotions against you. He was going to rape all of these women. Young, virgin novices. They are to be nuns, Sister Frances. He is not a good man. He raped you. He raped me!”

“No,” she said shaking her head. “No, he loves me. He’s always loved me. I just had to wait until it was a good time for both of us.”

“He won’t take you with him,” said Ghost. “He can’t.”

“B-but you will, right?” said Frances turning to look at him. “I mean, you love me. You’re going to marry me and we’ll have a family.”

“Bitch, I’m not marryin’ anyone,” he laughed. Frances turned full to face him and stared at his expression. She slapped him and then gasped. “No bitch will slap me.”

Her body slid to the ground, blood seeping from her dress. Jenna pushed the young women out of the way and knelt beside the Sister.

“I-I’m so sorry, Jenna. I’m so very sorry.” She shook her head.

“It’s alright. We’re going to get you some help.” Sister Frances smiled up at her and then shook her head.

“It’s alright, he’s taking me home.” She stared at the bright light above her, the kind face of the elderly man who’d spoken with her in the gardens of the convent.

She should have known he would be there.

She should have known he would give her peace.