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

Ruby went in search of the others. Neither Justine, Kendra, Scott, nor Gramps were in the dining room. Ruby spotted Gramps in his office—so where were the other Martinieres?

Well, she had calls to make while she tracked them down. Not a good idea to have stray Martinieres wandering around the ranch without supervision, even if there was a contingent of security outside. If something untoward happened—

Ruby headed for the kitchen, tapping Remy’s number.

“Remy Trask’s office, Shannon speaking.”

Must be Remy’s wife.

“Hi Shannon, I’ve not met you yet but I’m Remy’s friend Ruby. Congratulations—she told me about your marriage. But this isn’t a social call. I need to talk to her. Legal business. Is she available?”

“Right away.” Shannon’s voice softened. “She’s told me about you, too. I look forward to meeting you and Gabe.”

“Oh, that’ll happen pretty darn soon.”

Shannon laughed, then switched Ruby over.

“Hey Ruby, Shannon says you have some legal business?” Remy’s voice was crisp and professional.

“Legal and personal.” Ruby took a deep breath. “I need a prenuptial agreement.”

“So you and your Gabe are tying the knot? Sounds like you’ll need some protection for the ranch if that’s the case, given his history with indenture.” Silence except for the tapping of keys. “Looks like Dad drew up a generic prenup for you years ago, right after your grandparents adopted you. Got it right here in the Double R file on the computer. I can have it ready for signing really soon, depending on how many changes you need to have made.”

“Yeah. But things have gotten a lot bigger than what anyone imagined.” Ruby paused at the kitchen doorway. Justine, Kendra and Scott sat at the kitchen table, talking quietly. She closed the door for privacy and leaned against it. “You know that case you were telling me about yesterday? The one that made you leave LA?”

A cautious tone crept into Remy’s voice. “How does that relate to you marrying Gabe?”

“Did you watch Criminal Injustice last night?” Of course Remy probably had, given that she had worked on US vs Martiniere Group, but all the same—

“Yeah, but how does that relate to you and Gabe?”

“That’s my Gabe. I found out after the show.”

Silence. Then a stifled chuckle. “My God. Ruby, you have to be kidding.”

“I’m not. I have several Martinieres sitting in my house right now. Vygotsky Security on site guarding us. Oh God, Remy, it’s really complicated. Gabe says he has prenup forms, standard Martiniere stuff that makes me eligible for the Martiniere Family Trust as his wife if something happens to him. I don’t know what the hell I need. Probably something to protect the ranch. And—our children. I’m pregnant.”

“Damn. This is—damn, Ruby. You realize what you’re getting into?”

“We just got off the phone with Philip Martiniere. There’s a crapton of shit coming down. Gabe and his sister Justine have been sworn in as the Martinieres-in-waiting.”

“Wait—what? Justine’s his cousin, not his sister, that would make Philip his—”

“Yes. To all of it. Like I said, there’s a lot of shit hitting the fan. Including potential problems with Jesse Rivers should Nathan Bonham decide to foreclose on Gramps.”

“Damn good thing you have Vygotsky on site, then. Philip’s his father? That is fucking weird, especially in light of the trial.”

“Yeah. Gabe didn’t know that until last night.” Ruby took a deep breath and recounted the entire IVF saga.

“Wow. Sounds like one hell of a night for the two of you. I knew the Martinieres kept secrets, but that’s one of the biggest damn ones yet. Not a whisper of this came out during discovery or the trial. You said Gabe is now the Martiniere-in-waiting? That has to slow Bonham down, the SOB.”

“Gabe and Justine are the Martinieres-in-waiting, yes. We hope that keeps Bonham and Rivers off of our backs. But the personal piece. The wedding is happening as soon as we can make it happen. No waiting around. Sign prenups, get the license, marry after Thunder County Days. Will you be my maid—no, matron, since you’re married—my matron of honor?”

Silence. Then— “Holy crap, Ruby. Yes. Even if that means I have to risk being around Philip Martiniere. You have a date set for the ceremony?”

“God, no, not yet. Gabe proposed to me last night. We had a meeting with the Family this morning. Right now Gabe’s getting his finances in order and other stuff he needs to do to regain control of his money and—I guess whatever he has to do with the Family. Plus figure out what to do about Nathan Bonham and Jesse Rivers.” Ruby gulped. “Bonham could call the ranch loans in if we’re not careful and that could cause additional complications. Gabe’s planning to deal with that today. He has Donald Atwood and Gerard Martiniere to back him up.”

“Holy shit,” Remy said, reverently. “Bonham won’t know what hit him. Gerard Martiniere and Donald Atwood backing up Gabriel Martiniere? Damn, I almost want to be a fly on the wall watching that happen. Bonham’s another ass.”

“Well, we can bring you along if you want. Bonham was a real shit to Gabe and Gramps last week when they wanted a bigger loan to take care of Homestead. Gabe’s itching to take him down.”

Remy laughed. “I want to be there. Dad might want to sneak along as well. And I want to see Gabe’s prenups for you, too.”

“Good. I’ll make sure they get emailed to you.”

“Have him send them to Remington at Trask Law Office dot com, all lower case. And I’ll send a retainer agreement for the two of you. You’re gonna need it.”

“Okay.” Ruby shivered. “I—oh God, Remy. Until Vygotsky got here last night, we were walking around armed to the teeth just in case Rivers sicced a SWAT team on Gabe. That’s—how weird and paranoid things are here.”

“Shit. That’s—well, it sounds like you know what you’re getting into by now.” Remy exhaled. “I’ll review your prenup. When do you think you two can come by?”

“Early this afternoon, maybe?”

“That works. Neither Dad nor I have clients scheduled, so I’ll just block out the afternoon for Martiniere business. I can hardly wait to see Dad’s expression when I tell him who our newest client is going to be.”

“Remy—thanks. For everything.”

“Hey, I have a feeling you’re going to be giving me a lot of business, girlfriend.” Remy laughed. “And here I thought I was getting away from the Martinieres by coming back home. Well, this beats a lot of other options. Stay safe, and keep me posted. Good luck.”

“Thanks, Remy.”

“Once I get Gabe’s prenups, I’ll work up a draft modifying yours as needed. At the least, you need to have the ranch protected for you and your kids.”

“I agree. Thanks again, Remy.”

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