One hour later, Dawn was standing outside the church shaking hands and making conversation with some of the guests. She figured that word had travelled quickly about her promotion, as everyone was very polite, even respectful.
During a pause in her socializing, Dawn noticed a brightly-dressed, broad-shouldered black man leaning against a sports car, eyeing her over the top of his sunglasses. Now nearly everyone at the funeral were Italian-Americans, so the man sort of stuck out, although she couldn't remember seeing him inside earlier.
Not more than forty minutes earlier, Uncle Alfredo had advised her that although the Sablone Clan exerted considerable influence amongst the families of Calhoun, the overall Mafia organization was increasingly under pressure from outside elements; in addition to the local street gangs proliferating in the impoverished metropolis, the most serious competition came from two rival Caribbean crime syndicates. Alfredo concluded by sharing his suspicion that one of these may have been responsible for Guiseppe's untimely death.
Dawn wondered if this stranger was a spy, or maybe an ambassador. He twisted his neck slightly, seeming to beckon to her, and she decided to go speak to him.
"That dress looks pretty hot," he observed as she walked up to him.
"Yeah, I guess it compliments my curves," Dawn sighed in agreement. "The hemline is too low, you can't see much of my thighs, but it is a funeral..."
The man cut her off with a laugh. "No, like I bet you are hot in that dress. Like, wanting to change out of it."
"Oh, right, yeah," she stammered. "I meant that I want to take my dress off, and if I did, you'd see that my thighs, and my curves are ... um..." She trailed off as she turned red. She glanced up at him, chewing nervously at her fingernail before extending her hand. "I'm Dawn."
He took her hand and pulled her over towards the passenger door of the car. "Come on, Dawn. Let's get out of here and I'll give you a ride." She paused as he opened the door, seemingly reluctant. "You know why you came over here, so don't second guess yourself now."
She bit her lip as she hesitated, but decided he was right. She knew her first order of business was to reach out to the "enemy", and try and kiss and make up. After all, she didn't want to end up in danger herself.
The stranger directed her into the car and closed the door behind her. They exchanged a brief smile as he climbed behind the wheel. "First thing we should do is get you out of that hot dress, Dawn," he observed with a smile.
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