Dagger Daddy (Bratva Daddies #2)

Chapter 1

Landon

I used to think that the only option I had in life was to follow in the family business. Growing up, I was surrounded by men in dark suits with dark attitudes. I guess it was normal to me, but I always knew that my family was different.

Very different, in fact.

My father is Mikhail Galkin, a man who rose to the top of his family at a young age and has stayed there for the longest of times. He might be well into his senior years now, but I see more than ever how he carries the weight of the family business on his shoulders everywhere he goes.

My father is feared, respected, and sometimes even hated.

But I’ve never seen or heard of another man disrespect him.

The Galkin family came over to the US in the generation before my father. There were three brothers, and each one of them had three sons. But as it stands now, my father is the only one left alive.

Despite my father’s reputation as a ruthless and almost heartless pakhan, he is also known as a reforming influence on the family. As I grew up, I would listen to him tell me that my role in the business would be very different to his.

According to my father, I wouldn’t be a front-line soldier. Or a commander. Or even a tactical advisor. No. My path would be forged elsewhere.

Even my name would be different.

While my full name might be Artyom Landon Lane Galkin, I am only known as Landon Lane. The names Landon and Lane both coming from my mother’s side of the family.

My father told me that the Galkin name carried far too much heat. And despite the fact that with a little digging people could always find out who I was and where I came from, by having an Americanized name, I would for the most part be able to move and climb the corporate ladder unnoticed.

So rather than follow my father and become a pakhan, I was put on the pathway to legal expertise.

As my father spends more and more time taking the family legitimate, I am in training to become the best legal mind possible so that when the time is right, I can assume control of the new, improved collection of Galkin business interests and assets.

It’s a plan that has been tried before by other crime families.

And usually it’s a plan that fails sooner rather than later. After all, most families like ours are so deep rooted in the underworld lifestyle that they’re only one step away from all-out war or a long, protracted battle with the authorities.

But under my father’s leadership, the Galkin family have gradually turned the volume down on the drama so low it’s barely a whisper. No ongoing legal battles to contend with. Barely a whisper of the feds looking into our business. And as far as rival families go…

Well, let’s just say that one very bloody night later, my father made sure no one would be stepping up to take us on any time soon.

So. That’s me. Twenty-three years old, on track for a rock-solid legal career, and pretty much able to move around the city without a worry in the world.

Which reminds me… I need to haul ass and get myself to my morning lecture. It’s a corporate law session with an impressive visiting lecturer, so I need to get my butt into gear pretty damn quickly.

“Oh shit,” I exclaim, suddenly looking around my apartment and realizing that I left my law school backpack over my father’s penthouse across town. “Fuck!”

I double check across my compact apartment to make sure that it’s definitely not here. Nope. Nowhere to be seen. This isn’t good.

“Think… think…” I mutter, my mind suddenly running at a million miles per hour.

I’ve prepped a ton of notes ahead of this lecture and just like I always do, I wrote them by hand rather than on my phone or on a tablet. I like to do it old school when it comes to note taking, despite the fact that nearly all of the other students are totally obsessed with their screens.

Hey, I guess I’m not laughing now though.

My apartment is neat and tidy as always and I know where everything is, but I still rush around and check in the cupboards I know for sure my backpack won’t be in.

“Argh,” I exclaim, my frustration in danger of boiling over as I realize that for sure I am going to have to go to this lecture unarmed, so to speak. “Claw! What am I going to do?”

I reach over and pick up Claw, my furry little brown bear stuffie.

I might not have my notes and favorite legal writing pads, but at least I have my most cherished stuffie.

Claw is the softest, sweetest, and most cuddly stuffie I’ve ever laid my hands on.

And to make him even more special, he was a gift from my mother when I was only six.

It seems like a long time ago. My mom died when I was a teenager and I’ve been clinging on to her memory in any way I can ever since.

Dad doesn’t talk about Mom much. I don’t blame him really. I can see how painful it all is for him, even to this day. But the occasional conversation where we could reminisce wouldn’t go amiss, that’s for sure.

But, hey, I don’t have time for all this now.

The last thing I need to do is get all sad about my mom.

I need to grab whatever stationary I can find and get my ass to school…

I just about make it into the lecture theatre in time and grab a seat next to Todd.

“Phew, that was too close,” I whisper, a bead of sweat gathering around my hair. “You do not need to tell me that I’m late!”

“Ha!” Todd replies, his smile lighting up the room. “Let me guess… up all night drooling over Daddies online?”

“Yeah, right. I don’t think so!” I retort, playfully digging Todd in his side.

“That’s what you were probably doing! I was actually over at my father’s place until late.

Our traditional Sunday meal. Then by the time I got dropped off back home, I was too pooped to even make it through an episode of Game of Thrones. ”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll believe you,” Todd chuckles. “But speaking of Daddies. I hear this fancy ass guest lecturer is meant to be quite the catch.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I say, rolling my eyes. “But, yeah, I looked him up and he’s hot. What are the chances he’s a Daddy though?”

“We can but live in hope,” Todd says, his British accent coming to the fore before his attention is taken by his phone flashing up with a series of messages. “Urgh. Not this guy again.”

“Let me guess, another date night disappointment?” I ask, my eyes doing their best to focus in on Todd’s phone screen.

“Yeah, you got it,” Todd answers. “Is it me, or are there way more people out there posing as Daddies these days? They want the control, the power games, the sexy stuff. But they don’t really know how to do the other things? I mean, some of these guys can’t actually even spank for real either.”

“Todd!” I exclaim, my cheeks flushing red as I look around to make sure no one is listening. “I think we should save this conversation for later.”

“Post lecture coffee?” Todd asks, knowing full well what my answer will be.

“Oh yes,” I reply. “I’m going to need it too. Now, hush, Mr. Handsome Lecturer has just entered the building…”

And with that, Todd and I both regather our focus and turn our attention to the rather dashing man as he walks across the dais toward the lectern, his strong arms and powerful shoulders looking mightily impressive underneath a relaxed white shirt.

I might feel underprepared without all my pre-lecture notes, but the way this man is talking, it looks like I’ll be concentrating for the full duration and coming away with not just a new perspective on corporate law, but maybe even a new crush too…

The coffee spot was absolute full to the rafters. For a moment, I worried that Todd and I wouldn’t manage to find anywhere to sit. Luckily for me though, Todd has an eagle eye when it comes to picking out a free seat or two…

“Over there!” Todd says, his finger jabbing out in the direction of a cozy little couch over toward the window at the rear.

“I’ll grab the drinks, you grab the couch,” I say.

“Got it,” Todd replies, barely finishing his sentence before zigzagging through the hordes and claiming the seats.

I smile to myself and take my place in the queue.

The lecture didn’t disappoint, and neither did the guest speaker.

As well as being very handsome, he was also highly knowledgeable when it came to his area of corporate expertise.

I guess this is why my father insisted I go to this law school, and why I’m super-glad that he pays the extortionate tuition too.

The best guest lecturers come at a price, and I don’t think Mr. Jonathan McEvoy is any different.

Slowly but surely I move up in the queue until I’m just about ready to place my order.

However just as I’m in the middle of finalizing my choice of a matcha mushroom flat white to go along with Todd’s more traditional latte, I’m distracted by the sight of none other than Jonathan McEvoy entering the coffee shop and making a beeline toward me.

What. The. Hell.

Is he coming…

To speak to me?

“Ummm, h-h-h-hey?” I splutter, my cheeks turning bright red as Jonathan stands before me, his athletic frame looking even more impressive up close. “Mr. McEvoy.”

“Jonathan, please,” he replies. “I’m glad I found you. I was wondering…”

OMG.

Surely not.

I mean, come on. Really?

“Well, I couldn’t help but notice you in the crowd,” Jonathan says. “This isn’t my usual kind of move, but…”

“But?” I ask, sensing that even a guest lecturer probably shouldn’t be asking a student out on a date, not like this.

“You’re sexy,” Jonathan says. “You heard me. Sexy. And obviously smart too. Or at least your parents were smart enough to get you into a top law school. So, how does drinks sound? Tonight?”

I can’t quite believe what I’m hearing.

This guy has total asshole energy.

Jonathan McEvoy might be hot, and he might know the law too.

But if he thinks he’s getting to know me, he’s got another thing coming…

“I’ll pass,” I say, my voice flat and uninterested. “But thank you. Good luck in finding some other impressionable student to work your game on.”

I take my order from the barista and leave Jonathan McEvoy in the dust. I feel a righteous fury build inside me. Normally I’m calm and collected when I have to deal with assholes. But something about the way McEvoy behaved with me, like he thought he could take me for a fool and patronize me.

No, that’s not gonna work for me. Far from it.

“Everything okay?” Todd asks as I place the drinks down on the table and take a seat next to him on the couch.

“Do you ever feel like you want to find the sharpest knife around and plunge it all the way inside a man’s heart?” I ask, my heart thumping and adrenaline pumping around my body.

“Oh, yeah, all the time,” Todd replies.

But I can tell that Todd doesn’t mean it. Not really. As far as Todd is concerned, it’s nothing more than a throwaway comment. It’s the kind of thing that you say when you’re peeved.

I’m not Todd though.

When I say things like that, I mean them.

Because at the end of the day, Todd might know me as Landon Lane, but I’m still one hundred percent a Galkin.

And that means trouble.