First Episode

The Cost of Power is set in an alternative universe from the main Martiniere Legacy series. In this book, I take a closer look at the mind control technology and…the relationship between Gabe and his father Philip ends up being different.

Additionally, Gabe tells Ruby who he really is much, much earlier than in the main Martiniere Legacy series.

Most of all, I’m freeforming this story. I somewhat know where it’s going to go, but how it unfolds depend on what happens with Gabe, Philip, Ruby, and Justine once they get on a roll in this particular setting.

Enjoy! This is part four of Chapter Three. There will be five parts to this chapter.

July, 2033

GABE

Gabe raised his brows when they entered the kitchen. Several weapons rested on the green chrome and Formica kitchen table—two AR-15s and three short-barreled defensive shotguns with pistol grips.

Ron Ryder looked up from loading one of the shotguns. “Got everything straightened out?”

“Where on earth have you been keeping these weapons?” Gabe admired the collection. Oh, he had his own—the sniper rifle in its case upstairs, as well as several handguns. But this—he hadn’t any idea that Ron possessed this sort of firepower. Hunting weapons, yes. He’d used Ron’s Ruger 30.06 a few times when elk hunting, and there were shotguns for bird hunting.

Not these weapons, however.

“These came from the secret gun safe in my office, not the one with the hunting weapons. Got them when Ruby was little. So everything’s clear?” Ron asked.

“Yeah. Ruby told me about her father and—well, what happened when she was fifteen.” Gabe exhaled. “I’m assuming you saw the show along with Ruby. That’s me. I am Gabriel Marcus Martiniere.” He picked up one of the AR-15s and checked it. Clean. Well-maintained—not that he expected anything else from Ron. He set it down carefully. “Ruby and I are getting married, but there are some things that need to happen first.”

“So what’s the plan?”

Gabe leaned against the sink, pulling Ruby next to him. Mine. Precious. Now that she had said yes to his proposal, more priceless than ever.

“First, I’m calling my cousin Serg and getting Vygotsky Security here to protect us as soon as he can make it happen. My cousin Joey is in Pendleton, and if he hooks up with the Barkleys plus Rivers and Bonham, we’re in trouble. SWAT team, possibly, or a mercenary team led by Joey. I hope to stop that before anything nasty happens.”

Ron nodded. “Good.”

“Next. Actually, one thing, before I call Serg.” He released Ruby and went to the notepad on the refrigerator, where they kept track of shopping needs. He wrote the words broken angel twice, then tore the strips of paper off and handed one to Ruby, the other to Ron. “These are my mind control words. You need to know them, now. If they’re said in the right tone, they will induce anything from temporary immobilization to what you saw in the trial footage. While psychotropics were involved to cause that—reaction—including the trigger sensitivity, the right tone can set me off in weird ways. Including an involuntary protective response. Both of you have been around me long enough that you could trigger that protective response without thinking.”

“Remy said that your underwear had been contaminated when you testified,” Ruby murmured.

Gabe jerked. That name wasn’t very common, especially someone who knew that detail. “Remington Trask? You know Remy?”

“Saw her today. She was my best friend in high school, was on the Thunder County Days rodeo court along with me.”

“Jim Trask has been our family attorney for years,” Ron said.

“I didn’t realize Remy was from Thunder County. She never talked about her life before working for the Feds.” Gabe shook his head ruefully. “Small world. Well, that makes dealing with the legal pieces easier. She’ll know what is going on without me having to go through the whole explanation. But that’s lower on the priority list. Other things need to happen first.”

“Is there any way to defuse these words?” Ruby stared at the paper in her hand.

“I don’t know for certain. That is something we need to discuss with Family members. Second. I need to call Donald Atwood, my cousin Justine’s husband. He’s been managing my accounts on my behalf, ever since I knew I was going to testify. Talk to him, get my funds released so I have control of them, which opens the door for everything else.”

“And your identification?” Ruby’s voice was tight. “Proving that you’re Gabriel Martiniere?”

“Everything I need is upstairs. I’ll get it after I call Serg, but before I call Donald. Need to check expiration dates, get some idea about how complex the process will end up being.” He sighed. “Most of the rest is straightforward. We’ll meet with the Trasks, get you a prenuptial agreement and deal with other legalities. Then we can get the license and marry, as soon as possible so you’re in a position to get everything you deserve, Rubes. Just in case.” He glanced at Ron. “Ruby is already entitled to an income from the Martiniere Family Trust should something happen to me before our marriage.”

Ron nodded again.

Gabe exhaled and pulled out his phone. He pressed the button to call Serg. After a moment’s thought, he set it on speaker.

“Hello.” Serg’s voice was guarded.

“Serg. I’m surfacing. I need security as fast as you can get it to me. My girlfriend Ruby and her grandfather Ron are listening.”

Ruby’s phone buzzed. “Vickie?” She hurried out of the kitchen.

“That call you just heard may have been local assistance,” Gabe added. “Neighbors who may have seen the show. Law enforcement here is unreliable. Lots of old history, not just with me but with Ruby’s family. Potentially dangerous. I half-expect a SWAT team—or something worse—to show up soon.”

“Where are you?” Serg’s voice was steady. “I assume you’re close to Pendleton.”

“Lakeside, Oregon. The Double R Ranch.” He gave the address.

“I’ll be there with a team, shortly. We’ve been keeping an eye on Joey in Pendleton.”

Gabe sighed with relief. “Thanks, Serg. Look, we have an empty bunkhouse and manager’s cottage your people can use.”

“Still will bring our portable setups.”

“Once I have my funds we’ll build something more permanent.”

At least the bunkhouse and cottage were in good shape, along with the extra bedrooms in the house. Ruby often hosted rodeo queen royalty during Thunder County Days, and had talked about perhaps taking in summer tourists for extra cash. But they hadn’t done that yet—just kept up the buildings because it was easier to do maintenance than trying to rehab them if they fell into disrepair.

“Good. Look. You need to call Justine ASAP. They’re having a Family meeting about the show.”

“A Family meeting?” Gabe’s skin prickled. Oh, this was so not good.

“Gerard. Kendra and Scott. Justine. Dad.”

Oh fuck. The quiet power brokers within the Family that were friendly to him. Everyone except for Donna-gran—maybe—his aunts, cousin Artie and a couple of other elder cousins. “I’ll call them right away.”

Ruby returned. “Vickie saw the show. I told her everything. She and Mike are assembling a watch, at least on the road. More than that—”

“Taken care of. Rubes, call Vickie back and tell her that Vygotsky Security will be here tonight. Then—Serg, I’ll send you photos. Better yet, Ruby, have Vickie and Mike take pictures of everyone who will be on watch. Send them to me and I’ll forward them to Serg. I’ll send her Serg’s. We need to stop Rivers from any notion he might have of sending a SWAT team after me.” He paused. “Serg, I’m texting you a number. Vickie Chandler, head of a neighborhood watch group that’s forming locally. Friends. You might want to take the back roads rather than go through town, in case the problematic sheriff gets wind of your arrival. He doesn’t usually venture far out of the small towns here. I’ll text Vickie and give her your number. The two of you can work it out.”

“Got it.” Ruby nodded and left the kitchen again.

“All right, Gabe. We’re on the road. See you soon.”

“See you.” Gabe hung up.

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