Chapter Text
The first time Daniel laid eyes on the Dutchman, he knew the boy was special. His piercing blue eyes had a hold on Daniel immediately. At the time Max was still living with his father. Jos Verstappen had been Daniel his enemy from the minute he took over within the mafia. Mark had warned him about Jos saying how far he was willing to go.
There was one incident, a couple of years ago. Daniel had just joined the maffia, and Mark was still their leader. Verstappen had stolen something from them and Mark did everything to get that load of white powder back.
When they reached the Verstappen estate with guns blazing, it was the first time Daniel had seen Max. Jos had literally used his son as a gun shield, Daniel had seen the terror in the young boy eyes. Mark who was ruthless when it came to the Verstappen family had shot Max in the stomach. Max his father had released the boy which made Max crumble to the floor and hitting his head.
With this fall Max had injured his head, Daniel would never get the sight of the blond boy bleeding on the ground out of his head.
Daniel had made Michael hack into the hospital records to figure out the boys injuries.
It was three years later when Daniel first crossed path again with Max in a coffee shop. Daniel recognized the blonde boy immediately when he looked into those piercing blue eyes.
Max worked as a barista there, Max hadn’t recognized Daniel at all. They went on a first date together and before Daniel could take Max home he had to come clean to him about who he was. Max was shocked and had felt betrayed by Daniel. It took three months for Max to send a text to Daniel and for the pair of them to go on a new date.
After a year of dating Max moved in with Daniel. Max didn’t want anything to do with Daniel his line of work. Daniel knew and respected that.
By the time Max had moved in, Daniel had taken over the gang. Together with Pierre, Charles, Seb and Lando he lived on his own estate. Max got along well with the guys, and Max was mostly at home, having quit his job at the coffee shop when he moved in with Daniel.
Max had never stayed in touch with his father, after the incident he never looked for his father again. Daniel had hired a whole new security team, with Hulkenberg leading it to protect Max. Daniel made Max believe he was free to go wherever he wanted to but Max would always have security following him.
Due to Max his head injury he sometimes had crippling migraine attacks. Max got medication for them and it went loads better. Daniel thought there was nothing worse on days Max laid In a dark room unable to move, because everything would make him throw up.
It was the 15th of December, the gang had prepared an attack on the Verstappen estate. Daniel had told this honestly to Max the night before, and Max had been a bit tight lipped since then. In the morning before the attack Daniel woke up, he immediately noticed Max wasn’t in the bed with him anymore. Daniel slowly opened up his eyes, and searched the room for his boyfriend.
The balcony doors were ajar, and Daniel could see Max his silhouette on the balcony. Daniel slowly got up and made way to the balcony. He stood still in the doorway taking in his beautiful boyfriend who was standing against the balcony railing.
“ Morning baby.” Daniel softly whispered, not wanting to startle the boy.
You could say having lived with Jos for all those years had done a number on Max. Everyone knew the stories about how Jos treated Max when he was younger. Max had never fully told Daniel the whole story but Daniel could fill some of the blank spaces in. Max didn’t like to be touched without a warning, the first time Daniel wrapped his arms around Max unexpectedly the boy was so startled it nearly resulted in a full blown panic attack. Now they’ve been together for a longer time, he could touch Max and the boy enjoyed it.
But on a day like this when Daniel could see Max being in his head too much, he knew not too cross those boundaries.
Max slowly turned around, he was holding a cup of coffee and honestly looked like he hadn’t slept much. Daniel held out his arms, Max put the coffee down and slowly walked into Daniel his awaiting Arms.
“ You slept okay?” Daniel softly whispered in the soft blond hair. Daniel inhaled the scent of the boy his shampoo. Max slowly pulled back, biting his lip and shaking his head.
“ I’m worried about tonight.” Max said looking up at Daniel with his piercing blue eyes.
“ Can you promise me something Dan?” Max asked softly getting back into Daniel his arms.
Daniel nodded whilst holding the boy close.
“ Whatever you do, don’t kill him. If you ever decide to do that, I want to be there.” Max said, walking out of the embrace and back into the bedroom.
Daniel was left stunned, and watched his boyfriend go.
The rest of the day were spent preparing for the night, the rest of the gang would come along as well. Hulkenberg would remain at the house with Max.
It was nearing 10 pm which meant go time. Daniel entered his bedroom, the lights were off and Max was lying buried underneath the covers.
Max had switched medication In the past week and the migraines were coming on and off. Daniel crouched down on Max his side of the bed. He could see Max was awake, one arm was cradling the scar on his tummy.
“ It’s time baby.” Daniel softly whispered, Max his face still scrunched up In pain. Daniel pressed a soft kiss on Max his lips, and softly massaged Max his temple.
“ Be careful okay.” Max said, his bright blue eyes looking up at him.
“ Of course, I love you.” Daniel whispered.
Max nodded and immediately groaned, a soft I love you too was whispered. Daniel pressed a soft kiss on Max his forehead and shut the door softly.
“ Is Max okay?” He heard Lando ask when he closed the bedroom door.
“ I don’t know the new medication doesn’t seem to be working that well yet.” Daniel sighed. “ I will ask Hulk to keep an extra eye on him.” Daniel said sighing.
They packed all their stuff and got into the vans. The plan was to enter the Verstappen estate through the back and side entrance. In the lead car were Daniel, Seb, Michael and Pierre. In the second car were Charles, Lewis, Lando and Pierre.
They parked a bit farther down the road, the first car went for the back entrance and the second car for the side entrance. At the front gate they had seen two security guides who looked like Checo and Kevin.
They arrived at the back entrance and there was no security in sight. It made Daniel suspicious at the same time. He made eye contact with Seb who was also looking around suspiciously. They got on the estate without too much interference. Daniel could see Charles and the rest had also gotten access to the estate.
They entered the house through the back entry, they immediately ascended towards the cellar. They hadn’t spotted any security yet and the whole place was quiet. Too quiet for Daniel his liking. They made their way into the cellar, where there was still nobody. They looked around the dark place, and Seb and Lewis quickly found what they were looking for. Or so they thought. The entire cellar was empty.
Immediately everyone drew their guns. At the top of the stairs they could see Jos, checo and Kevin. All their guns were raised as well, the promise Daniel made to Max was in the back of his mind.
“ Daniel, this is not the way I wanted to invite my son in law over.” Jos said looking at them.
“ Piss off. You fucking stole from me.” Daniel said, looking at the exit in the basement.
“ Oh did I? I think you start looking into your own people before you accuse me of such things.” Jos said with a sneaky smile on his face.
“ Now drop those fucking bags and leave my property.” Jos said turning back upstairs. Checo and kevin ushered them out of the cellar.
All the way home, Daniel felt like a fucking loser for getting send away like that. He knew Jos made the comment to play with him but somewhere in the back of his mind he felt an inkling of doubt. Just as they drove off the road by the estate Daniel could see a van driving past them.
“ Sorry guys, I’ll think of a better plan next time.” Daniel said rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“ It’s fine, I’m just glad no one got hurt.” Charles said smiling at him. Daniel nodded but was lost in his thoughts the rest of the way home.
When they got home, the house was completely dark. Daniel looked into the office where Hulkenberg was most of the time but could see he wasn’t there.
“ Weird.” Lando commented.
“ You did ask him to look after Max, maybe he’s there?” Michael said, trying to be the voice of reason.
All of them walked through the hallway into the house. Daniel dropped his stuff down, and Seb took it over to put it all away. Daniel walked into their bedroom and pushed the door open softly, not wanting to disturb Max if he was asleep.
When the bedroom door opened he could see the bedroom was a mess, the covers were thrown off the bed. The balcony doors were open, and there was a bottle on the floor. Daniel crouched down to smell it was chloroform.
“ Fuck.” He cursed loud enough for the other boys to hear it.
“ Find fucking Hulkenberg, I want to know where the fucker is.” Daniel screamed out.