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 NUMBER FOUR, JULY 28, 2023

Rough outlining has happened for the series. This book will be called THE COST OF POWER: PRODIGAL’S RETURN. The other two will be THE COST OF POWER: PRODIGAL’S TRIAL and THE COST OF POWER: PRODIGAL’S REDEMPTION. It’s up to you to decide who that prodigal might end up being….

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

July, 2033

GABE

“We need you to be someplace safe,” Lance Helgessen announced as Vygotsky Security surrounded them.

“I know. Philip will be here in less than half an hour. Ed, can we wait at your office?”

“Certainly,” Ed Trask said.

“I’ll explain when we get there.”

The five-minute drive from the bank seemed to be one hell of a lot longer. One security contingent followed them inside the Trask Law Offices, while the others took up position outside. They took refuge in the conference room—only one window there, thankfully. One of Lance’s subordinates took position at the window while Lance stood at the door. Gabe spotted two more members of Vygotsky Security standing outside the window.

Good.

“What the hell did Daddy-poo have to say? Why is he coming here?” Justine leaned against the conference table after Remy and Ed left them alone, her arms crossed.

Gabe recounted the conversation. Justine pursed her lips as Gerard frowned.

“So he’s identified Mariah Meyers as the toxic element, I’ll bet,” she said. “The medication part worries me, though.”

“Agreed, but if it works, it works. For now. We need to think about these other issues.” Gerard’s frown deepened. “What Philip said about Bonham fits what I observed of Bonham’s actions. And those contracts.” He shook his head. “The newer loan contracts were better, though still problematic.”

“Those were the ones that Gabe had me amend,” Ron said. “That was one reason why Bonham started getting more obnoxious about Gabe’s presence when I came in to sign the new loan agreements. He and Gabe argued about some of those problematic clauses. It got pretty heated.”

“Glad to hear that you remembered what I had taught you, Gabriel. I will be in contact with Bonham’s superiors at Northwest Farmers’,” Gerard said. “They will be most interested in this situation.”

“Maybe,” Ruby said, a cynical note in her voice.

Gerard shrugged. “They are publicly held, and since Gabriel is local, it might well be in the best interest of the Martiniere Group to take a financial interest in their institution, shall we say? It will be not be difficult for the Group to gain a majority stockholder position in Northwest Farmers’ Bank.”

The thin-lipped smile that followed that statement reminded Gabe that Gerard could be just as ruthless as Philip, in his own way. What else had Bonham said to anger his uncle?

“What’s our plan from here, Gabie?” Justine unfolded her arms.

“Some of us need to go back to the ranch,” Gabe said. “You and Don, Ruby and Ron. Reduce the number of potential targets, because it sounds like Philip wants us—me and him, primarily—to confront Jesse Rivers. Gerard should go with us.”

“Hell no.”

The sharpness in Ruby’s voice made him cringe.

“Rubes, can you please stop using tones?”

“I don’t know what the hell I’m doing with the tones, so no, and I’m not going back to the ranch while you and the father who was trying to kill you just a few days ago get into it with Jesse Rivers!” Her jaw jutted out stubbornly. “I’m going to be at your side, damn it. You need me there to watch your back.”

Gabe sighed. He loved his redheaded darling, but damn it, she could be so stubborn sometimes. Almost as if she were a Martiniere herself.

Well, she’ll fit into the Family all right.

Justine chimed in before he could say anything more. “Gabriel, I am also the Martiniere-in-waiting. If a show of force is required, I need to be there too.”

“That puts all of us at risk. I’d like one of us to be clear of this mess should something bad happen. And what about Don?”

Justine and Donald exchanged glances. “I’m at Justine’s side. Always,” Donald said.

Gabe exhaled. “Then Ron—”

His soon-to-be grandfather-in-law snorted. “I’m not missing out on this. Rivers isn’t gonna be watching me. I agree with Ruby. You have kinfolk on your side, but too many of them can be manipulated by those vocal tones. I’ve been watching all of you. Since Ruby also seems to be influenced by your voice these days, and I don’t know about their effect on Donald, you need someone there who can’t be affected. Just in case.”

Gabe rubbed his face. It made sense—too much sense. “All right,” he conceded. “But this is going to be one hell of an entourage. Lance, your opinion?”

“I’d just as soon have all of you in one place. Sending some of you back there now creates an opening for them to be abducted while they’re en route.”

“Thanks, Lance.” Gabe dropped into a chair. He checked his phone. “Ten more minutes before we leave to meet Philip, then Rivers. Tine, Gerry, I think we need to have a long talk with Philip after the meeting with Rivers.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, beginning to feel the faint twinge of a headache. “Rubes, Ron, do you have a problem with Gerry staying the night? Tine, Don, we already discussed this. But it’s also possible that Philip may stay as well, if we end up running late.”

“That would make the most sense, if there’s space,” Justine said.

“There is,” Ruby said. “You and Donald can have the other bedroom on the third floor. Gerard and Philip on the second floor.” She sighed. “It’s a good thing I cleaned out the bedrooms to prepare for Thunder County Days.”

Ron eyed Ruby. “We have enough food for tonight, Ruby-girl?”

“I’ll send security to the Food Stretcher to pick up anything else we might need,” Gabe said. “Ruby, let’s make a list while we’re waiting. Dinner and breakfast both.”

She relaxed slightly and picked up one of the Trask Law office notepads and pens that sat on the credenza next to the conference room table.

Logistics. Something safe that they could consider. A distraction from what lay ahead.

What is it going to be like seeing Philip as my biofather? Especially after five years?

Was he ready for this?

Deep inside and despite his worry about their safety, Gabe was also glad that Ruby and Ron had insisted on staying. He needed the support of his real family. While Justine and Gerry were helpful—he had gone through a lot with Ruby and Ron in the last four years, to the point where they were the people he trusted the most.

More so than anyone in the Family right now. Even his sister.

Previous Episode |

Share Martiniere Stories

Leave a comment