Orange Heart ~Joe Burrow

73

Joe's POV:

February 18th, 2022

When I arrived in LA, I waited for Josh to come since he was only about 30 minutes behind me. I paced LAX and did my best to keep my head down. Ja'Marr called me while I was waiting for Josh; I groaned, "Hey, man,"

"Hey, where are you? I thought we were having drinks after practice,"

"Shit, yeah, I'm sorry,"

"I'm at your house, where are you? Are you out with your fiancee?"

A pang of hurt was in my chest at the mention of McKenna, "Um, I'm in LA-"

"What? Why?"

"I'm looking for McKenna, she was abducted," I whispered so the people around wouldn't hear me, "It was by her crazy ex, he went after her sister and McKenna traded places with her,"

It was silent for a moment, "Fuck... Do you want me to come out there? I can help look for her,"

"No, that's okay. Josh will be here in a few minutes, we are going to the police and are just going to be waiting for updates. Just hold down things for me in Cincinnati while I'm gone, okay? Don't tell anyone, I don't want them to panic and blow up my phone,"

"I've got you, man, don't worry about it. Keep me updated, okay?"

"I will,"

"Alright, see ya man,"

"Bye," I replied and hung up the phone just in time to see Josh walking towards me, "Hey man,"

"Hey," Josh replied, "I can't believe this is real," 

I nodded slowly, his eyes were red, "I know. Come on, let's go find her," 

Josh and I went to the police station where we met up with Meadow, Cody, and Felicia. 

I was distraught but I was doing my absolute best to keep it on the inside but seeing Meadow, Cody, and Felicia broke my heart. They held looks of fear that made me even more anxious than I already was. I was trying to be strong and Josh was too but we could only put on so much of an act before cracking and crumbling under the pressure.

We were at the station for about an hour, giving them all of the information we had but it didn't seem to help since we had no idea what type of vehicle Mitch was driving. We were told to go home and wait for an update but how were we supposed to just sit around and wait? That woman is everything to every one of us.

Realization hit me right as we were about to leave the police station, Dumbass! You have her location! I ran back inside and looked at the officer, "I have her location on my phone," I stated as I pulled up her phone location, she's smart, she would have put it somewhere Mitch wouldn't expect. McKenna was traveling East on I-10 in Southern Arizona almost to New Mexico. The officer took my phone and picked up his office phone before dialing a number, Josh walked back inside and gave me a weird look, "I found her," 

McKenna POV:

February 19th, 2022

It was close to 4 AM and I had been fighting all night to try and get out of this hell hole that Mitch had trapped me in. We were so close to the Mexico border and it worried me that if he took me across, I would never have a chance at being saved or running away. I'd just be a whisper in the wind, leaving what 'legacy' I have behind. There was also the fear of what would happen to my daughter, to hell with me, I've made my bed but it wouldn't be fair to her.

I dropped to my knees and let a few tears fall down my face; I was exhausted, and my head was throbbing as my entire body shook. I sobbed and shook my head, "I can't do it," I whispered. My hand rested on my small belly and I cried harder, "I'm so sorry, baby girl,"

"Get up," 

I looked around and stood up, my breathing increased and I felt a familiar feeling in my heart, "Whose there?" I muttered.

"Don't you give up,"

I knew that voice from anywhere but it broke me even more, "I-I can't keep fighting. I-I'm sorry,"

"Yes, you can! My little girl isn't a quitter, you find a way out and you find a way back to your home, your family, your fiancé. Don't you give up, I know you can find a way out!"

I shivered and looked toward the window, I pulled my sweatshirt from over my head and was left in my tank top, I wrapped the fabric around my knuckle and punched the window as hard as I could shattering the glass. I pulled myself out of the room and grabbed a glass shard before running toward town as quickly as I possibly could. Hearing my dad's voice gave me what motivation I needed and I wasn't going to let Paul down.

I grabbed at my phone but it was dead, I did however have an emergency credit card in my phone case that Joe gave me for if I was ever in trouble and I think this classifies as being in trouble. I ran into a rental car building, "Please help me, I need a car. Now,"

He gave me a strange look, "You don't look old enough to get a rental car-"

"I'll pay extra for no questions asked, just please, run the card!"

He took the card and put it in the reader but then pulled his eyebrows together, "You stole this card, you aren't Joe Burrow," 

My heart sank, "I-I know, he's my fiancé, see, here's my ring! If you can't get me a car can you please call the police?"

"Police?"

"Yes, I've been abducted, please," I begged. 

"I don't buy it. You seem like a nice girl but I need you to get out of my store,"

"What?"

"You heard me, get out!"

"B-But I need your help! Please, I've been abducted by my ex-fiancé. My name is McKenna Walker, please, call the police!"

"Lady, you're not McKenna Walker, and I'm done playing your games, now leave,"

I was baffled as he cut the card in half before throwing it back at me, "Y-You can't be serious,"

"Get out!" He yelled.

I walked out of the store and looked around to try and find anything else that was open. "You didn't make it very far," Mitch muttered. 

I jumped and shook my head, "What do you want? Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"You're my girl,"

"I haven't been your girl in years," I stated and received a smack across the face before being drug into the car. "No, please-"

"Shut the fuck up, McKenna," Mitch stated and tossed me into the passenger seat roughly. When he walked to the driver's side I opened the door and took off running as fast as I could. "McKenna!" I heard him yell but I was already gone. I had tears streaming down my face but pushed myself as hard as I could to continue running. I was terrified but knew that if I stopped he'd surely kill me. 

I didn't look back, I didn't even know what direction I was running in. I could've been running towards the border for all I knew but I was also running in the direction of town. I had to make it to that building, I had to. I heard a car and my heart was sinking as I continued fighting.

I had nearly made it to the building when the vehicle flew past me and stopped in front of me. I stopped and turned around to run but Mitch was faster than me; he grabbed me by the throat and tossed me in the car, I pushed myself up once more and went to open the door again but heard a gun being cocked back. I froze and slowly took my hand off the handle, I turned to face Mitch slowly and he held a smug smile on his face, "Don't you know? I always get what I want," He stated before hitting me in the head once more with the gun rendering me unconscious, just as he had yesterday.