Vern Turner was up to no good, as usual.

He brushed the singular strand of greasy hair back into his updo as he sauntered down the street with his friends, clutching classic black ski masks in their hardened knuckles, bruised or bleeding from fights, scurrying around stores like skinny street cats, toughened by the world around them, untouched by innocence.

Ralph beckoned the crowd over just as they stopped outside of a fancy jewelry store. "We know the plan." He instructed. "Make it quick. Don't use your gun unless you've gotta. Grab the money out of the register. Hefty's gonna pick us up out front and we'll gun it." Ralph instructed the men firmly, looking into their eyes to make sure he didn't have to pound the information into one of them again.

Everyone turned to Vern, waiting for his confirmation. "Let's do this." Vern nodded firmly. Vern and Ralph pulled their masks over their heads and shoved the doors of the shop open, taking their revolvers out of their pockets. "Hands where we can see 'em! Don't be smart!" Ralph barked and made his way over to the cash register while Vern was on crowd control. Vern's eyes scanned the easy crowd. Mothers who were too scared to do anything with little kids. Vern's eyes stopped as he spotted a girl about his age, hugging a younger girl close to her chest.

Vern's eyes locked onto the girl, and he felt stupid feelings rise up in his chest. This girl was a bombshell. Vern had seen pretty girls before, but this one was different. She had a whole innocent thing about her, looking like some kind of angel sent down from heaven. Her eyes were wide with fear as she clutched the smaller girl (maybe a younger sister?) and her eyelashes were long and beautiful, her lips pouty and pretty. Her slender neck that caught Vern's attention - and the silver cross hanging down from it that brushed against her chest.

Shit. Vern thought, all thoughts of a possible romance dying. She's a church girl.

"Man!" Ralph called. "We gotta go!" He held up a bag of money. Vern - for the first time in a heist - felt himself hesitating.

Ralph noticed this an walked up to him. "Man, what are you.." He noticed the girl and grinned. "Hot dame, huh?" Vern didn't answer, caught in a haze while staring at her. Ralph shrugged and nudged Vern. "If you want her so much, grab her. We'll take her with us."