BOOK 4 of the ORPHIC Series
DISENTHRALL
/ˌdisənˈTHrôl/
set free.
~~~~~
When Lucille 'Lucy' Opal Baker starts adjusting to a world without Captain America and more government therapy sessions...
T H E F A L C O N A N D T H E W I N T E R S O L D I E R
43
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Your heart lays still as it waits forsafety."
Brooklyn, New York August, 2024
ANGELIKO WAS SOUND ASLEEP. His snores were quiet, barely heard as ambulances screamed, cameras flashing. Somewhere in front of them, Sam was talking to the public—to the news. It was good, to see him as Captain America; that other people would see him as Captain America. She sighed, looking at Angeliko as he slept. She had a slight issue; she didn't want to disturb Angeliko but she also wanted him to be out of Henry's hands.
Henry cleared his throat, placing his hands under Angeliko's arms. He tugged and Angeliko squirmed, holding onto him with a vice grip. He looked at her, then Angeliko, then at her. He was starting to look annoyed, and Lucy didn't want Angeliko to be caught in the crossfire.
"'Liko," she called softly, "you have to let go now."
Angeliko huffed, snuggling closer to the source of warmth under him. She pursed her lips as Henry stopped trying to remove him from his shoulder. Instead, he gently pushed Angeliko's face away from the crook of his neck.
Angeliko sniffled and Lucy stiffened as Henry brushed the dried tears from his cheeks, his thumb brushing against his skin like Angeliko was the most precious thing in the world.
"It's alright now," Henry murmured, "your Mama came right back for you, didn't she? You need to let go."
Angeliko gripped onto him tightly, like he was attached to him. Lucy knew Angeliko was probably cranky, tired, and hungry, all at once. She didn't want him to feel any worse than he might already have.
Lucy placed a hand on his shoulder.
This time, Angeliko half turned, yawning as he reached his hands out towards her. Lucy grasped him, picking him up with ease. She held him in her arms, rubbing his back in reassuring circles as he let out a sigh of relief.
Henry looked at Angeliko with something like concern, before his expression flattened. Alpine, who'd been clinging to his pant leg the entire time, seemed to take his empty arms as an opportunity. She climbed onto his chest and Henry was forced to hold her.
Alpine mewed contently, her tail waving lazily back and forth.
"Mama?" Angeliko murmured, reaching one hand to his face and rubbing his eyes.
Lucy's lips twitched upwards as she gave him a broad smile.
"Mama's so pretty." He gasped as he touched the crown on her forehead– she was sure he'd been wanting to do that for a while now. "And– and so strong!"
