I read it out loud. “Hiro is the perceived leader. He has black hair with a red streak on the right side. He also likes lollipops.”
I looked at Yefim.
My guard shrugged.
I tapped the page. “Maybe we should get some lollipops. What do you think?”
Yefim shrugged again.
“Wow. You can add a little more input.”
“I’m only here to make sure no bullets come your way.”
“Good point.” I went back to the picture and spotted Hiro in the image. “Yefim, do me a favor and have the driver stop us at Rubiscookies.”
“Rubiscookies?”
“Rubiscookies is the name of a shop.”
“That sells cookies?”
I grinned. “What’s funny is that there is not one cookie in the store. Instead, it’s all sweets. My best friend O loved the place.”
Yefim took out his phone and gave the driver the instructions.
“Oh.” I blinked. “Should I give him the address?”
“That’s his job.”
“Okay.” I was slowly getting used to all of this. “Anyway, Rubiscookies has an insane collection of lollipops, candies, and chocolate truffles. They take candy to the next level and are super creative.”
“Will they have chocolate ruble coins?”
“Definitely.” I smiled. “That’s your candy addiction?”
A wicked grin spread across his scarred face. “I haven’t had any in several years.”
“Then we’ll grab you some while we get Hiro’s lollipops.” I shrugged. “Personally, I love chocolate pelmeni dumplings. How can anyone be mad at dough full of chocolate?”
Yefim nodded.
I twisted my hands together, needing something to do. “The staff is good too. You can show them a picture of the person, and they will come up with the perfect sweet gift for them. They’ve helped me think up things to send to my grandmother.”
My heart ached.
I thought of Grandma and wondered what she would say about this idea. I never knew her to sit down while men raced around. Always, she worked at helping and protecting those that needed it.
I’ve got this. I have my grandmother’s blood in me.
I returned to thinking about the shop.
First, O introduced me to the place. Then, I went there now and then to buy stuff for the few gatherings that I was invited to. Candies, pastries, and chocolates played an essential role in Russian social rituals. When someone invited me to their small party, I would ask what to bring. Always the answer tended to be, bring something to go with tea.
I enjoyed the shop. Entering the place was like walking into a scene from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Yefim nodded. “This could be a good idea.”
My mood brightened. I switched to English. “You think so?”
“I hope so.”
I’ll bring some nice lollipops, give this Hiro a smile, show respect, and ask nicely.
I twisted my hand again.
And then. . .hopefully. . .the Xecutioners or anybody else won’t try to kill me.Chapter 27
Ava
Leaving the candy shop, we headed to the Xecutioners.
I held two boxes of the most expensive lollipops I’d ever heard of.
The box on top cost $1000 in US dollars. Each lollipop was edible art and featured a movie scene encapsulated in the candy’s exterior. The film was called 13 Assassins. According to Rubiscookies’s confectioner behind the counter, the movie was one of the best in Japan’s samurai movie genre. The story was about a group of once loyal samurai who became too disappointed with their sadistic feudal lord that they staged an assassination attempt against him. The confectioner declared that each scene would remain until the final lick. Meanwhile, the flavor was a mixture of coconut and blueberry.
I stared at the box.
Just because he’s Japanese doesn’t mean he likes samurai films. God, what was I thinking?
Just in case he hated the movie or disliked those lollipops, I bought a second elegant box too. This one held Rosé lollipops that were made with the actual wine and hints of raspberry. Edible gold flakes outlined the rose-shaped candy.
But are they too glamorous for a group of killers?
Yefim snacked on chocolate rubles. Every time he peeled off the gold wrapping and revealed coin-shaped chocolate, a giddy expression covered his face.
At least someone is enjoying this adventure.
Yefim popped coins into his mouth and grinned. Had I not been used to his scarred face, I might have been terrified. The smile didn’t soften his looks and came out more horrifying.
I smirked. “How’s the chocolate?”
“Perfect. You look nervous.”
“I am.”
“Remember the codeword.”
“Black Swan.”
“But you won’t need to say it. There’s something about a woman’s touch that can soften even the most dangerous killer.”
“I hope you’re right.”
The limo stopped.
I looked out the window.
While the other underground spot was under a sleazy bar, this one existed under a high-end strip club.
Strippers, Misha? Well. . .you were a single man at the time.
The club was called Zavist which meant envy in Russian. I’d heard about Zavist strip club among some of my fellow ballerinas. They giggled about it in the dressing room. Many rich guys had taken them there, perhaps trying to get the women in the mood for a lustful evening.