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 five of Chapter Four. There will be five parts to this chapter.

July, 2033

RUBY

Soon enough, they stood next to one of the Vygotsky SUVs as a white business jet with ATWOOD lettered on it in dark blue taxied up to the hangers at Thunder County Airport. Gabe slid his right arm around Ruby’s waist.

“Good move, to use Don’s plane and not a Martiniere jet,” Gabe murmured. “Folks will make that connection, but not right away. Lance told me that Suki and Trevor got attention when they went into town to pick up the pastries, wearing Vygotsky uniforms. No one asked, but there was lots of side-eying. I’m sure the rumors are flying.”

“Especially after the show last night.”

“Uh-huh.” His arm tightened on her waist as the stairs lowered. “Sooner or later we’ll have to deal with paparazzi. I’m glad we have Vygotsky around us now. That’ll take care of a lot of it. I expect us to get swarmed once the media puts two and two together. If someone doesn’t tip them off first.”

Maybe we need to put together a social media strategy to counter the paparazzi. Ruby filed that thought away, to consider later.

Justine Martiniere-Atwood was the first to descend the stairs. Dark-haired, elegant, poised, dressed in light gray slacks with a pale green blouse and gray loafers. She lowered her sunglasses and glanced around in that careful, assessing gaze familiar to Ruby from Gabe’s behavior. Then she pushed the sunglasses up on her head, grinned, and ran toward them, spreading her arms, all dignity cast aside.

“Gabie!” she squealed.

Ruby held back as Justine hugged Gabe.

Then Justine raised her head. “Get over here, Ruby.” She kept one arm around Gabe as she pulled Ruby into the embrace. “I have a good brother, and hopefully a sister soon as well.”

“It will be soon,” Gabe muttered. “Believe me. We just haven’t had the time to set a date yet.”

“The aunts will want a piece of planning it.”

Gabe rolled his eyes. “And Donna-gran, and—” He broke off as Donald Atwood joined them. “Don. Good to see you.”

Ruby bowed to Donald—she had seen him around the barn plenty of times while Justine rode.

“Damn good to see you too—same for you, Ruby.” A faint smile edged Donald’s lips.

Justine eased away from them as the others approached. Another brunette who closely resembled Gabe and Justine, hand-in-hand with a redheaded man, stepped forward.

“Gabriel. It’s good to see you,” she said, bowing, then turned to Ruby.

“Kendra, Scott, this is my fiancée, Ruby Barkley,” Gabe said. “Ruby, this is my cousin Kendra Martiniere-Macleod and her husband Scott.”

Ruby murmured something and bowed back to them.

The two elder men approached them. One clearly resembled Serg—that must be his father Piotr. Which meant the other had to be Gerard Martiniere.

“Gerard. Piotr. My fiancée, Ruby Barkley. Ruby, this is Serg’s father Piotr and my uncle, Gerard Martiniere.”

Piotr bowed to her.

Gerard studied Ruby carefully, then bowed. “Justine has been sharing quite a bit about you on our flight from Corvallis, Ruby. I understand you graduated from Oregon State University’s ag robotics program with honors?”

“Magna cum laude,” Ruby said, stifling the grin that wanted to break loose. Gerard’s pleased expression said a lot. Clearly, she had already passed some sort of inspection. And for Justine to share that information—did Justine agree with Gabe’s assessment of her abilities? Had Justine been keeping an eye on her all along, suspecting that Gabe was with her?

Very possible.

Gabe beamed. “She’s brilliant. My brilliant, beautiful Ruby. I can hardly wait to hear Artie’s raves once he sees her designs.” He slipped his hand into hers. “And now we’d best get out of plain sight and into the vehicles before Piotr, Serg, and Lance have a collective meltdown over our being exposed.”

#

The casual tone of the gathering changed once they were settled into the dining room at the ranch, Gabe at one end of the table, Gerard at the other. Gabe laced his fingers together, leaning back in his chair, elbows resting on its arms. But Ruby spotted the coiled tension underneath his casual façade.

So, apparently, did his kin, from their serious expressions. Gabe and Gerard locked gazes, not speaking until Gerard sighed and looked away.

Leadership struggle? Isn’t Gerard also a candidate to become the Martiniere? That would make sense—wouldn’t it?

“So. Gabriel, you now know the truth of your parentage.”

“I’d like to know what the hell was going on.” Gabe’s voice was deceptively calm but something about it awakened those same tingles in Ruby from last night’s—ritual. “And why it took until now for me to find out.”

“It is a long story.”

“Tell me the short version, then.”

“You were supposed to be told on Joseph’s sixteenth birthday. Both of you.” Gerard looked down, then back up. “Saul’s death changed many things. Philip did not deem it necessary, and since he was the survivor and your custodial parent as well as your biofather, none of us wanted to challenge him.”

“Why?”

Ruby wanted to reach out and comfort Gabe at the agonized cry that ripped deep into her guts. But it wasn’t appropriate. Not when he was trying to establish himself as—as—what? The Martiniere? Martiniere-in-waiting? Or still completely independent from his family, except for his income?

“Saul and Philip were engaged in a power struggle. Philip did not accept his position as the younger twin and demanded that he become the Martiniere-in-waiting instead of Saul. He argued that he was more fit for the position than Saul. Their battles threatened the Group’s survival and security. Mother, Father and I finally negotiated a truce with them. Saul’s wife would bear Philip’s son. Philip’s wife would bear Saul’s son. All to be done by means of IVF. At the age of sixteen, the two of you would be told, and given the opportunity to prove which of you was more fit to become the Martiniere-in-waiting. After the plane crash—” Gerard exhaled. “For what it is worth, Gabriel, even though you may not have seen it, Philip was devastated by Saul and Angelica’s deaths.”

“He sure as hell chose weird ways to show it.” Gabe’s face tightened.

“Philip has never been the best at personal relationships.” Gerard shook his head. “I encouraged him to tell you that he was your father, and to not treat you as harshly as he did Joseph. That you were different. More like him growing up than like Saul. But—I cannot begin to explain why he behaved as he did. Something happened to him earlier. Something that changed him.”

Gabe sighed. “Louisa was Papa’s daughter?”

“Yes. And Justine is Philip’s.”

Gabe unlaced his fingers. “All right, then. Before we move on, I want to state my position with regard to my return.” He paused, leaning forward to sip from his water glass. Then his words came slow, weighted, causing Ruby’s gut to tighten. “First. I have lost one family. I do not want to lose my second family. Ruby, her grandfather, and the children that Ruby and I will hopefully have someday need to be my first priority. Period.”

Not mentioning my pregnancy. Because it’s early, or because he doesn’t trust sharing that information yet?

“Understood.” Gerard inclined his head in brief assent. “I would not expect anything else from you.” A similar weighting of his words to match Gabe’s.

“Second. This is where I live. I would prefer to have a quiet life on the ranch, designing biobots and other technology along with my brilliant beloved. Not get involved in Family politics.”

“Unfortunately, Gabriel, that does not appear to be possible,” Gerard said.

“Why?”

Gerard arched a brow at Justine—oh, Ruby recognized that expression. Gabe was very much part of his family. Maybe it would be easier to learn how to be a Martiniere than she thought. “Justine? You can speak to this better than I.”

Justine brushed back a strand of shoulder-length hair. “There are a number of issues with our fucking father right now, Gabriel. First and foremost is that he is in poor health, and my other damned brother thinks he’s entitled to become the Martiniere.”

“Poor health?”

“Cardiac issues. And something else I don’t know about yet. It’s also affecting his judgment.”

Gabe snorted. “As if that’s new.”

Justine took a deep breath before continuing. “There’s more. Philip does not control the spread of the mind control techniques and technology, and has not done so for a long time. This is information that my—sources—have recently encountered. I’ve suspected this is the case ever since I became External Affairs First Secretary several years ago, but to have it confirmed like I did recently is troubling.”

“How long has this been happening?” Gabe snapped.

“At least ten years. Possibly longer.” Justine paused. “Zingter Enterprises truly controls the tech. Not the Martiniere Group.”

“Fuck.” Gabe groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Was that a factor in Philip trying to force you to marry Walter Braun?”

“Yes.” Justine’s face tightened. “From what I have seen, the exchange was supposed to be me for the tech. Braun stole it and blackmailed Daddy-damned-dearest.”

Gabe slammed the table with his hand. “Do we know how Zinger got access to the mind control tech?”

The tension in the room sent prickles up and down Ruby’s spine. All the Martinieres had grim expressions, and she didn’t think it was just from the weight in Gabe’s words.

“My fucking other brother, the fool,” Justine snarled. “Joey handed the tech to none other than Walter Braun himself. I have conclusive proof.”

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