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.

DING-DING-DING-DING-DING UPDATE NUMBER THREE, JULY 21, 2023

And…the book is DONE at 95,000 words, roughly. Just about ten years before the actual happening date…that is, if this story was set in our universe, which it isn’t.

It will be a trilogy. But I’m not planning that out today.

DING-DING-DING UPDATE NUMBER TWO, July 14, 2023

I’m at 88,000 words in the book and closing in on the final chapter. And…I think we have a trilogy here. More on this once I’ve wrapped up this book.

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 three of Chapter Seven. There will be five parts to this chapter.

July, 2033

GABE

“That’s who you are dealing with now, Nathan,” Gabe said, letting that aristocratic insolence slip back into his voice. “Not Gabe Ramirez, broke bronc rider and ranch hand. You’re dealing with me. Who I really am, not an on-the-run pseudonym. Gabriel Marcus Martiniere. As of this morning, I am the Martiniere-in-waiting, along with my sister Justine.” He nodded toward Justine.

“I still want to see everyone else’s ID,” Bonham insisted. A faint sheen dotted his forehead.

First Donald, then Gerard, then Justine repeated the process of showing their passports to Bonham without letting him touch them, then handing them to Marsha.

“I believe you owe my nephew an apology,” Gerard snapped once the identity check was done.

Gabe waved his left hand. “Nah. He wouldn’t mean it anyway, Gerry, and that’s not the business we have to transact today. We’re here to pay off the Double R’s loans. In full.”

“There’ll be some penalties—” Bonham began.

“I think not,” Gerard said. He nodded at Ed Trask. “I am not licensed to practice law in the United States, but as the chief financial officer for the Martiniere Group, I find some of the language in those loan documents to be—problematic.”

Before Bonham could answer, buzzes sounded from Gabe’s phone—buzz-buzz-buzz, a pause, then buzz-buzz.

The code that meant the Martiniere calling, under highest security, pending threat.

Philip. Calling him.

“Excuse me, but this is urgent,” Gabe said, heart pounding. How had Philip gotten his new phone number so quickly?

He must have contacted Piotr. Crap. That means there’s a significant problem.

“Go ahead, Gabriel,” Gerard said. “We will take care of the situation here.”

“Thank you.” Gabe slipped outside of the conference room. He turned away from the open doorway to the main foyer of the bank, walking to the opposite end of the hallway. “Gabriel. Insecure location, responses limited.”

The old protocols are falling into place so damn fast. It was almost as if he hadn’t left the Family for five years—the recognition of the code, automatically knowing what he needed to say right away.

“Understood.” Philip sounded tired. “I’m arriving in Lakeside in half an hour. That damn fucking sheriff in Lakeside—is that the place where you’re located?”

“Yes.”

“He just called me, offering you dead or alive, my choice, and wanting a bounty.”

“Fuck. Are our—connections—involved?”

“I don’t know for certain if Zingter is part of it. Joseph is supposed to be involved with the attack on you. I did get that sheriff to stall because he was going to swarm you with a SWAT team. I persuaded him to not do anything until I’m there. Piotr is sending more security to wherever the hell it is you are.”

Damn it. I knew Rivers was up to something! Good thing he’s mercenary enough to try and collect a bounty first.

Gabe’s mouth went dry. He coughed and swallowed before speaking again. “I’m paying off the loans on Ruby’s family ranch so the fuckers can’t try to foreclose on it and cause us more problems—what Rivers had in mind, I’m sure. It’s Northwest Farmers’ Bank.”

“Huh.” Philip snorted. “Nathan Bonham of that bank is supposed to be part of the setup.”

The hairs on Gabe’s neck prickled and he suddenly felt as if a target was pinned on his back. “We’re meeting with him right now. Bonham’s being an ass. But I have Gerry and Justine with me.”

“Fuck. That’s—well, damn. Tell Bonham I’m on the way. Do what needs to happen and get yourself to a safe location, boy. With Joseph there, who knows—”

“How the hell are you beating the programming from our friends?” Risky to ask, especially given that they needed to get moving, but he had to know. Just in case he needed to do it himself.

“Meds that conflict with it as well as getting rid of a suspicious person in my life. The meds have a negative impact on my overall health, but—” Philip laughed bitterly. “Get yourself someplace safe. Once I’m there, we’ll deal with Rivers.”

“Understood.”

“Good.” Philip hung up.

Gabe blew hard. Then he marched to the conference room. Bonham knew. He had been stalling to keep them there longer, until Rivers had time to reach the bank—Marsha hadn’t called, so who had? Bonham, before meeting with them?

“We need to settle this quickly,” he said, interrupting Donald as he entered. “Philip will be here soon.” He glowered at Bonham, turning his full fighting glare on the man. “That’s Philip Martiniere. The Martiniere himself. Father to Justine—and me.”

Oh, it was so pleasant to see Bonham recoil at that news.

“Everything’s paid off, Gabe,” Ron said. “Donald wrote the check. I’ve signed the necessary documents.”

“Thanks, Don. I’ll pay you back shortly.”

“No need. Consider it to be a combined welcome-back-to-the-Family and a wedding gift from us, Gabriel,” Justine said. She slipped her arm into Donald’s and they turned toward the door—so she had picked up on his urgent tones.

“Then let’s go. We have things to take care of.”

Ruby raised her brows at him quizzically but he didn’t have time to explain—nor did he want to discuss anything further at this moment. He wanted them out of this place, as soon as possible.

Remy and Ed Trask gathered the paperwork as Gabe and Ruby helped Ron to his feet, Gabe on one side, Ruby on the other. Gabe paused Ron and Ruby at the doorway.

“Oh, and by the way, Bonham? I’ll be withdrawing my account here very soon. I’m sure Ron and Ruby will be willing to move the ranch accounts as well. There’s another, more reliable bank in town that will be more than happy to work with Gabriel Martiniere, I’m sure.”

“Eh, for that matter, Atwood Investments can pick up your accounts,” Donald said.

The sick expression on Nathan Bonham’s face was oh-so-sweet as they left the conference room.

Nonetheless, Gabe wasn’t going to feel secure until they were back in the SUV and somewhere safe, until Philip arrived.

Ironic as hell, that he considered Philip’s arrival imperative to his safety.

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