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.

UPDATE, April 21, 2023 : Given where I am in this story drafting-wise (approximately 60,000 words), THERE WILL BE A SECOND BOOK. No way can I wrap up what I’m doing here in 40,000 more words. Things are gonna happen with Philip, Gabe, Ruby, and the Martiniere Multiverse, and I don’t want to cut the Multiverse elements that start coming into the story. This may be the series that resolves the entire Multiverse element of the Martiniere stories.

Now whether that book gets serialized here or not…we shall see.

Enjoy! This is part one of Chapter Six. There will be six parts to this chapter.

July, 2033

RUBY

Gabe clung to her as they kissed. He hadn’t been trembling when they spoke to Philip, but now she felt his body quiver as he leaned against her. As they stopped kissing and Ruby leaned her head back slightly, she saw how wild-eyed he was, his breath coming short and fast, reminding her of a skittery horse.

He’s spooked. Not surprising.

They had just gone through a lot. Were going to be experiencing a lot more complications. And after that call from Philip, well, she didn’t blame Gabe for being rattled. Yet another about-face that shattered every assumption he had made about his family, this one bigger than ever, from what she was starting to figure out about the Martinieres.

She wasn’t going to think about the mind control stuff. Not yet. Something had happened when Gabe and Justine swore those oaths—she had seen the faint glimmer as each of them kissed the blade. And the things she had felt when Gabe and Gerard spoke—

So much left to learn.

But for now—Gabe—

Ruby took his head in her hands. “I love you,” she murmured, softly enough that Justine and Donald—who were leaving the living room anyway—couldn’t hear. “I’m here for you. You know who and what I am. That’s not changing.”

A big shiver wracked Gabe’s body, and he rested his head on her shoulder for a moment. Her hands slid to his waist and she held him as he steadied. Then he raised his head, his grip on her easing.

“You’re sure you can handle this?” His brows furrowed with concern.

She sighed, exasperated. How many times had he asked her this during the last twelve hours? How many times did she need to repeat her answer? Was Gabe that insecure about her love for him?

“Gabe. I said yes to your proposal, knowing who you really were. All of this?” She freed one hand, waving it dismissively. “Finding out that you’re rich? The missing Martiniere heir?” She gulped as those other images came to mind, blinking hard. “No matter what, you’re with me. Safe. Not—” she choked, sniffling as tears—why was she crying? She wasn’t usually this teary.

“Rubes.” His voice was soft.

“You being a Martiniere isn’t what my worst nightmare was,” she whispered. “Having you disappear one day and not knowing whether you were dead or alive was one of them. Others were having to watch bounty hunters haul you away or—worse—watching you die in a shootout because you wouldn’t surrender to indenture.” A sob broke loose—damn it, why was she being so emotional?

“Damn it, Ruby, I didn’t think—”

“I love you, and have been living with this fear for the past four years. Terrified that I’d have to watch you die or get dragged away into who-knows-what kind of lifetime servitude. Trying to figure out how I could find funding to get you free if that happened without getting hooked into indenture myself. So God yes. I can handle everything that’s part of the Martiniere life, because that means you’re alive and with me.”

She couldn’t hold back those damn tears any longer. Gabe held her tight, crooning softly as she sobbed into his chest.

The flurry of tears eased as quickly as it came. Ruby straightened up, sniffling, trying to dash the dampness from her eyes as she gulped. Gabe reached up and wiped the wetness away, caressing her cheek.

“Rubes.”

“I don’t know why I’m crying so much,” she choked. “It just happens. Maybe it’s because—because—”

“You’re pregnant and we’ve had a lot thrown at us in less than twenty-four hours.” He swallowed hard. “It’s—yeah. Better than the alternative. But oh God, am I ever glad I have you in my life. I can do this, with you at my side.” He exhaled heavily. “It is going to be a huge change. Not just because of the Martiniere part but because we’re gonna be parents.” He stroked her cheek some more. “I want to be a better father than—well—either of mine, it seems. Saul was pretty good, but damn it, for him and my mother to agree to this damn situation, and not give me the faintest idea….”

She drew a ragged breath. “I sure as hell intend to be better at parenting than my parents were.”

“Oh God, Ruby. No fucking kidding.” Gabe kissed her. “Okay. We good now?”

She nodded.

“We have a lot to get done today. Thank you, my love. Thank you for being here for me.” He shook his head. “I’m spooked after that call from Philip. Something has definitely flipped a switch in him. Me surfacing? Something Joey’s done that we don’t know about yet? For him to exhibit this quick a turnaround in his attitude toward me means that either this Zingter situation is worse than we think, or his health is worse than anyone knows. Or both. Whatever it is, we’re facing some bad stuff.”

“Well, all we can do is attack it one chunk at a time. Together.”

That brought a fleeting smile to his lips. “Yeah. And with that—I’ve gotta get those finances straightened out. You find us some help so we can go to Paris next week. Start planning our wedding. Figure out how we’re gonna get those damn control words out of my head—that is not going to be an easy process. Even though I’m somewhat protected now, the programming for the words isn’t going to be as easy to eliminate.” He followed with another kiss, then gently urged her out of the living room. They returned to the dining room, arms around each other.

Donald looked up from his computer projection as they entered. Gerard and Piotr sat nearby. “Credit cards are updated and ready to use, Gabe. I need you present to transfer account management for your other financials.”

“All right, then.” Gabe squeezed Ruby and joined Gerard, Piotr and Donald. “Let’s get this show rolling.”

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