Chapter Text
It happened when he was 16.
Evan Buckley had been born for one reason and one reason only. To provide parts for his older brother, Daniel.
He'd known that since the beginning. His earliest memory was of his mother scolding him for asking for a treat when he was 3.
"You're only here for Daniel, you need to stay healthy so he can be healthy. Which means no candy."
By the time Evan was 5, he'd accepted that. He quit asking for anything. He was provided 3 protein-rich meals a day, force-fed fruits and veggies, given all his vaccinations, and was never allowed outside the house.
If he got sick, Margaret hovered. Never missed a dose of medicine, fed him soup, made sure he was comfortable in bed. Anything to make sure he got better quicker just in case Daniel needed him.
Evan hated it. He wanted to go outside. He wanted to meet people, to make friends, to ride a bike. He wanted to walk down the road with Daniel and Maddie to that park he could just see from his bedroom window.
At least he wasn't alone. Maddie and Daniel stuck by him, brought him gifts from outside, snuck him treats. Maddie had given him his first ever chocolate bar at 7 years old for his birthday, Evan splitting it into three to share with his siblings.
The only thing Evan had that truly brought him joy was baking. He'd watched Maddie carefully bake and decorate birthday cakes every year for Daniel and himself and when he was 10, asked to help.
She taught him cakes, pastries, pies, homemade cinnamon rolls, donuts, and so much more. It was the only thing Margaret and Phillip wouldn't take away from him, Maddie and Daniel both begging to let him have it.
Evan wasn't really allowed to eat what he baked, but Maddie always snuck him bites when she could. And over the years, Evan really improved. Maddie even insisted he'd gotten better than her after maybe two years of practice.
Margaret and Phillip started acting really weird about 4 months before his 16th birthday. Maddie and Daniel had no idea what was going on and clung to Evan extra.
The night before his birthday, Margaret knocked on his door. Every hair on the back of Evan's neck stood up in paranoia, his spine tensing as he called for her to enter shakily.
Margaret never knocked, not for him. He hadn't even been allowed to close his door until he was 14, and definitely wasn't allowed to have it locked. So for her to be knocking politely had Evan terrified.
"You're 16 tomorrow," Margaret started slowly, Evan blinking in surprise. "You know my birthday?" He asked shocked, Margaret's jaw clenching.
"Of course I know your birthday, Evan," she snapped and he rolled his eyes, scoffing. "Could have fooled me," he muttered, crossing his arms.
His parents hadn't acknowledged his birthday once. The only reason Evan even knew it was because Maddie and Daniel made sure to celebrate it silently around midnight every year with him.
"Tomorrow you're 16. It's time to pay off your debt. We're going to have guests for dinner, and you'll be going with them after. Pack your bags," she said calmly, ignoring his muttering.
"What?" Evan gasped, sitting up straight. "Mom, what the hell are you talking about?"
"You'll get your answers tomorrow. Pack anything you don't want thrown away, you won't be returning," she said shortly, turning on her heel and walking out swiftly.
Evan stared at the open door stunned, unable to move or even close his mouth. What the hell?
"Evan?" He heard very softly from the hallway, the teen blinking slowly and swallowing hard. "Mads?" He whispered back, glancing at his alarm clock.
11:19 pm. He'd been sitting here silently for almost 2 hours already?
Maddie and Daniel crept in quietly, both with a bag in their hands and Maddie holding a plate with three cupcakes they'd baked together that morning.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Maddie asked worriedly, taking in her baby brother's pale face. Daniel frowned worriedly, sitting carefully on the edge of the bed.
Both of his siblings had moved out by now, Maddie having left 5 years before and Daniel 3 years before. But they made sure to stop by every weekend to see Evan and always stayed the night for his birthday.
Maddie's husband Doug hated it, and Evan knew it, but he never did anything against it because the one time he'd tried to stop Maddie from leaving, Daniel had shown up with a baseball bat and broken Doug's elbow.
Maddie had gone back a week later, both Daniel and Evan protesting it, but she insisted. Evan knew it was because she wanted out of this house, and didn't want to return, but he wished she'd chosen someone better.
"Eves, what's wrong?" Daniel asked quietly and Evan swallowed.
"Mom- she- who's coming tomorrow?" He asked shakily and the two older siblings frowned confused.
"There's someone coming?" Maddie asked and Evan nodded nervously. He stuttered through an explanation of what Margaret had told him earlier, about packing because he wouldn't be returning.
Daniel's mouth fell open and he sat up straight, Maddie's eyes filling with tears and her hands pressed to her mouth.
"I- I don't know what's going on," Evan whispered, hugging his knees to his chest. Maddie and Daniel huddled close to him, squeezing him between them.
"You'll be safe, I promise. We're not gonna let anything happen to you," Maddie said firmly, holding her pinky up. Evan wrapped his pinky around it, Daniel wrapping his around theirs.
"It's us against the world, okay? No matter what," Daniel promised and Evan took a deep breath, nodding shakily.
"Now, it's time to celebrate someone special turning 16. In some cultures, you're officially a man," Daniel said proudly, picking up the plate with the cupcakes.
Evan grinned, tilting his chin back playfully snobby. "Good, no more kid stuff," he said proudly and Maddie raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh really?" She asked and Evan grinned, chuckling as he took one of the cupcakes. "Really. Time for, uh, kissing and driver tests," he said amused, not really certain on that part. He'd never been anywhere really except hospitals for Daniel, maybe a grocery store run when he was little, the backyard. Besides his family and doctors, he'd never really talked to anyone before.
"Kissing and driver tests," Daniel said with a laugh, nudging Maddie with an elbow. "He's too cute."
Evan smacked him with a pillow, Daniel curling protectively around his cupcake. "Hey! Watch the food," he demanded and Evan rolled his eyes with a grin.
"Alright. To 16, kissing and driver tests," Daniel said amused, holding his cupcake up in a toast. Evan and Maddie held theirs up, bumping them together in a toast.
They ate them quickly, Maddie carefully making sure they didn't leave crumbs all over Evan's sheets.
"Gifts!" Maddie said excitedly, holding the bag she had brought out. Evan took it, tilting his head curiously.
He pulled the paper out, a small box sitting at the bottom. He opened it, blinking slowly as he took in the chain with three small animal engravings on it.
One was a buck, one a bunny, one a fox. Evan blinked slowly, fingers running over the metal as he looked up shocked at Maddie.
"These-" he cut off and Maddie grinned. "Are the animals you assigned us when you were 4 as our spirit animals. Your buck, my bunny, Danny's fox. This way you'll always have us with you while we're away," she promised and he pulled her into a tight hug.
"I love you so much Mads," he whispered and she kissed his birthmark, squeezing him tight. "I love you too little brother," she promised and Evan sat back, wiping his eyes.
"Here's mine. It's not as fancy, but I hope you like it," Daniel said nervously, holding his bag out. Evan took it curiously, opening it and looking inside.
A set of keys sat at the bottom, a keychain attached. There were three keys on it, Evan picking them up and tilting his head confused.
"One key to my house, one to Maddie's, and one to my jeep. This way you'll remember you're always welcome in our homes and you'll always have a way to get there," Daniel said quietly and Evan let out a silent sob, clutching the keys tightly in his hand.
"Why-?" He asked quietly, the two hearing the silent question. Why give him these items if they didn't know he was being told to leave?
"Doug- is moving us to Boston. This key is to that house, we leave this weekend," Maddie said quietly and Evan's stomach dropped.
He looked at Daniel worriedly and frowned as his brother looked down. "I got accepted to Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, I'll be starting in August. My house here is still my house, but since the school is in Philadelphia, I'll be staying in the dorms," he said quietly and Evan swallowed pained.
"Oh," he whispered, both gifts held tightly in his hands. "W-Well, I guess it's- uh, a good thing I'm apparently getting kicked out tomorrow."
Maddie cursed harshly under her breath, making both boys jump surprised. Maddie never cursed, even when she'd been running and her shin slammed full force into a truck hitch 4 years before. She'd screamed, sure, but didn't even curse then.
"If you are getting kicked out, then you're coming with me to Boston. Doug can kiss my ass if he says anything about it," she snapped determined, Evan blinking but smiling faintly.
"And if that doesn't work out, well, I've got an empty house, you're 16, I'll need someone to watch my plants," Daniel said just as determined and Evan smiled shakily at him.
"I love you guys," he whispered and they both squeezed his palms. "And we love you, baby brother. We're all in this together, okay?" Maddie said firmly and Evan nodded, not even making the High School Musical joke he'd considered making.
"I think a sleepover is needed," Daniel said firmly, jumping up off the bed. "So you get changed, put your things away, and we'll all crash here."
"I- I need to pack, there's too much I don't want to risk leaving behind," Evan protested, looking around his room that had been his whole life. Everything that mattered was in these four walls, how could he pick and choose what to bring to wherever he was going?
"Then we'll help. Mads and I probably have a couple bags you can use," Daniel said thoughtfully, Maddie nodding quickly.
They left the room, Evan quickly changing into sweats and a tank top before grabbing his two laundry bags. He didn't have luggage because where was he going? A single backpack Daniel had given him years before was all he'd needed for hospital stays after donations.
Evan carefully packed his absolute most important items in the backpack. His important documents, every bit of money he'd ever received, his photo albums he'd been given for his 8th, 12th and 15th birthdays.
The recipe book Maddie had carefully made for him when he was 11. Every recipe carefully handwritten by her, pictures of her own or even Evan's creations glued onto the paper, little doodles in the margins.
The drawings and messily written short stories Daniel had created when they were stuck together in the hospital before Daniel's leukemia had been cured. Daniel had written short stories as "assignments" for his homeschooling that Maddie would curl up and read to them in their hospital beds.
A few little trinkets they'd given him for birthdays or just because. A baseball Daniel had caught at a school game. The CD Maddie had burned for him of a bunch of random music she'd thought he'd enjoy. A sparkly rock she'd brought home from the zoo. A tiny penguin keychain Daniel had bought him from the hospital gift shop after their last ever procedure.
By time Maddie and Daniel had returned, his backpack was full. "Okay, one of these for your clothes, one for the rest of whatever you want to bring. Anything left behind, Maddie and I will separate and bring home, it'll never be thrown away I swear," Daniel promised and Evan smiled shakily yet gratefully at him.
They spent the next hour going through every single thing in his room. Both bags got packed full, a few more items getting tossed into the backpack. Once all three were zipped shut and set by the door, Evan looked around his half-empty room and just stared.
"I've always wanted to get out of here," he whispered a bit dazed, unaware that a couple tears had fallen down his cheeks. "But- never like this. I don't know what's going on tomorrow. I don't know who's coming. I- is it a family member? Social worker? Are Mom and Dad finally just- putting me in the system now that you're healthy, Daniel?"
The two older siblings stepped forward and clung to his hands. "If that's the case, then you're coming home with one of us. We're legal adults, we can take custody of you. But we have family members elsewhere who can keep you safe. I'm praying it's going to be one of them," Maddie said quietly and Evan took a shaky breath.
"But no matter who it is, you're not losing us. Here," Daniel said determined, grabbing a piece of paper off Evan's desk and scribbling out two addresses.
"These are our addresses. So you'll always be able to find us, okay?" He said, folding the paper and tucking it into Evan's backpack.
Evan nodded, taking a slow breath. "Now let's go to bed. I'm tired as hell and it's apparently going to be a busy day tomorrow," Daniel said and Evan nodded, climbing into the bed.
Maddie and Daniel laid tucked on either side of him, all curled up under the covers. "I love you both," Evan whispered and Maddie kissed his birthmark as Daniel squeezed his arm.
"We love you too Eves," Daniel whispered and Evan closed his eyes, soaking in the comfort of his siblings. He tried to memorise this feeling, unsure of when he'd get it next again.
The three stuck together the whole next day. Neither of their parents acknowledged Evan's birthday, acting as if it were a normal day.
The only odd thing that kept happening was Evan catching Phillip staring at him more often. He was torn between the thought of maybe his dad would miss him when he was gone and he probably can't wait till I'm gone.
Dinner came too fast. Margaret had been cooking for the last three hours, having kicked everyone out of the kitchen. Maddie and Daniel had dragged Evan to the backyard to relax in the hammock, Maddie reading them a book just like she used to when they were 2, 8 and 10.
But now, they were all dressed in their best clothes, waiting in the living room. At exactly 6:30 pm, a knock came at the door. Maddie and Daniel pressed harder against Evan, his pinkies held in theirs behind their backs.
"Mr. Reigns, welcome! It's so nice to see you again," Margaret said brightly, her tone of welcome so clearly faked that Evan had to really stop himself from rolling his eyes.
"Mrs. Buckley. Charmed. Is this the boy?" The older man in the doorway asked, casting a critical eye over Evan.
Evan straightened his spine, meeting the man's eye without backing down. He didn't know the protocol for meeting new people, but he'd overheard Phillip talking to Daniel once about making a good impression and showing himself as strong and confident.
Evan felt anything but, staring the man in the eye. It did help minutely that he stood taller than the man, if only by two inches, but some primitive instinct told him his height wouldn't matter here.
"Yes sir, this is Evan. Today is his 16th birthday, and we've kept very good care of him. He's completed his job, he's all yours," Margaret said calmly, Evan shooting her a confused look.
"Mom," Maddie started and Margaret gave her a look. "Not now Maddie. You and Daniel step away from Evan, let Mr. Reigns look at him," she ordered, Evan shaking his head quickly.
"Mom, wait," Daniel protested but she gave him the look that said not to argue with her. Maddie and Daniel reluctantly stepped away, leaving Evan feeling like he was on an auction block.
The older man walked slowly around him, clicking his tongue. "16?" The man asked and Margaret nodded, Evan shaking slightly.
"Hmm. Derek is 19 and Layla is 18, which is what we'd planned. He's in the right age group. I've shown both of them the pictures you've sent me, Margaret, and I believe Derek is the one interested.
"Of course, if we do this, Derek will have to take a mistress. He's the heir to my company, he needs an heir and obviously this, boy, can't give him one. But he is rather pretty, isn't he. That mark is going to have to be covered though, it's too recognizable," the man just kept talking, almost absently as if he was just speaking out loud.
"Mistress? Heir? What is going on?" Evan finally demanded and Mr. Reigns chuckled, crossing his arms.
"Your parents have a debt to me, kid. 17 years ago, Margaret came to me for help, as Phillip was sterile and they needed a miracle to save their boy. I had my men tested and one kindly donated to your parents, to give them a parts garden for the child they actually wanted.
"The only payment I asked for was, well, you. My children needed spouses, and why not one indebted into loyalty? I believe my son, Derek, is the one interested, so feel lucky. You may be marrying the heir to the biggest mafia on the West Coast," he said smugly, Evan's mouth falling open.
"M-Mafia? You're selling me to the mafia to pay a debt? You're fucking kidding," Evan snapped and Margaret glared at him. "We don't use that language in this house, Evan. Show your mother some respect," Phillip demanded and Evan laughed a bit hysterically.
"Respect? Does she even deserve my respect? She's selling me off like I'm a worthless piece of trash!" He shouted, Maddie and Daniel stepping close to him and glaring.
"He's not going anywhere. He's not an object to be sold," Daniel snapped, Mr. Reigns chuckling lowly.
"The contract is done. And if he doesn't come with me, well, I guess people will just have to worry why poor Phillip Buckley snapped one day and committed mass murder then suicide," he said smoothly, Evan's breath stuttering.
"Is that a threat?" Daniel snapped and Evan grabbed his arm. "Danny, stop. You heard him, he's mafia. If- if this is what I need to do to make sure you and Maddie are safe, I'll do it. I'll find you again, someday, I promise," Evan whispered shakily and Maddie let out a sob.
"Evan," Daniel whispered and the teen just smiled shakily at him. He turned to face the man, clenching his jaw.
"Where are we going? And when?" He asked flatly, Mr. Reigns appraising him a moment with a twitch of his lips.
"You care about your family," he said calmly and Evan scoffed. "I care about Maddie and Daniel. D- Phillip apparently isn't my father and Mo- Margaret just sold me off like I'm a fucking cow. She isn't my mother.
"But these two, yes. I care for them. They're all I've got. So if I have to be sold off and held hostage to keep them safe, I will," he said bluntly, the man frowning faintly.
"There won't be any holding hostage, we don't do that," he said coldly and Evan raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so if I just up and left, you wouldn't count it as a breach of contract and go after my family?" He demanded and the man didn't answer.
"Exactly. I'm being blackmailed into being arm candy for your son. Whatever. I'm going to grab my bags," he snapped as he started down the hall.
A hand grabbed his arm and pulled him around. Before he could react, a hand backhanded him hard onto the floor. He landed hard, his elbow slamming into the wood floors and sending shocks of pain up to his shoulder.
"Dad!" Daniel shouted, getting between him and Evan. Maddie helped Evan off the floor, both of them seething.
"Show some respect, boy," Phillip sneered at Evan and the teen scoffed as he stood straight. He turned to face Mr. Reigns, who looked as if he hadn't seen a more amusing scene in his life.
"My apologies, sir, was I disrespectful?" Evan asked the man flatly and the man's smirk grew. "You're 16, I expect it. And you're quite reasonable considering your age and the fact that this was sprung on you," the man said, not answering his question but answering it at the same time.
Evan turned to Phillip, his cheek and arm smarting. "Mr. Reigns has at least earned my respect, Phillip. He at least hasn't lied to me that I know of," he snapped, turning and smiling faintly at Maddie before disappearing down the hallway.
He stood in his room a moment, dropping to his knees with his hands pressed to the rug. He was being sold off as a trophy husband. Did this shit even still happen? It was 2008, this was some movie drama bullshit!
He let himself shake for 30 seconds, gasping breaths slipping through clenched teeth. He pulled himself together and stood up shakily, slipping his backpack onto his shoulders and grabbing both of his bags.
He stopped and quickly grabbed his comforter, needing the object he'd cuddled his siblings with. He stopped a second, scribbling out two notes for Maddie and Daniel, reminding them he loved them forever and that they'd see each other again someday. Something to remind them he existed.
He headed to the living room where Margaret was in tears, Phillip was red from anger and Mr. Reigns was watching Maddie and Daniel interested.
"I'm here," Evan said and Maddie sprinted forward, practically tackling him with a hug. "You find a way, Evan, understand me? We'll see you again, I swear," Maddie demanded and Evan nodded, leaning into Daniel as he joined the hug.
"Maddie, Daniel, be reasonable," Margaret said tearfully, continuing a conversation Evan hadn't heard.
"It is reasonable, Mom. You sold our little brother off for your own selfish reasons. Well congrats. You've lost all your children. Daniel and I will be getting all our stuff out and we'll never be in contact again," Maddie snapped and Evan's mouth fell open.
Mr. Reigns chuckled, straightening up and brushing invisible lint off his jacket. "Well, this was amusing. Thank you for the show. Andrews, get the kid's bags, we have a flight to catch," he said calmly, Evan feeling terror fill his stomach for the first time.
Oh. This was actually happening. This wasn't some elaborate hoax his parents were pulling, Evan was actually being sold off.
He clung to Maddie and Daniel, shaking his head quickly. "I love you both, so much, please-" he cried as they squeezed him between them, tears falling from all three of their eyes.
"We love you so much Eves, be safe, please," Daniel whispered terrified, eyes darting up as two men stepped forward and grabbed Evan's arms.
"Hey! I'm going, let go!" Evan cried, trying to throw them off. But he had no muscle, no strength. Being forced into a small house for his entire life with a lack of opportunities of exercise left him weak, even with the extremely healthy food.
As he was dragged away, he swore internally that no one would get the opportunity to do this to him again. He'd work out, exercise, change his diet. No one would ever be able to force him into anything again, not physically at least.
"Evan!" Maddie yelled, Daniel holding her back as the two men led Evan down the pathway. He looked up tearfully as he was led to a rather expensive looking suburban, that stereotypical black vehicle.
Margaret and Phillip watched from the doorway, both of their faces impassive. As the door slammed shut in Evan's face, he saw Daniel whirl around and shove Phillip inside, Maddie already screaming inaudible at Margaret.
Evan smiled shakily, eyes locked on the front of the house instead of the men around him. At least he knew his brother and sister had him, even if they were apart.
He hoped he'd see them again, someday. He'd cling to that hope to survive, because who knew what life would be like married to a mafia heir?