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 one of Chapter Eight. There will be five parts to this chapter.

July 2033

RUBY

Ruby’s thoughts scattered all over the place as they clambered out of the SUV. She concentrated on helping Gramps as a means for regaining focus.

Philip Martiniere was not at all what she had expected him to be. Oh, she had anticipated that confrontation at the airport, figuring he would peg her as unworthy to marry a Martiniere. And yet—calling her choice to remain on the ranch laudable, after it had been explained to him—was this the irrational, biased man she expected?

So much going on. So much changing, so quickly. None of the Martinieres seemed to be openly surprised by Philip’s about-face with regard to Gabe—but could she trust that it was real? She didn’t know any of them well enough, except Gabe, to trust their judgment. However, Gabe seemed to accept the change, so perhaps it was genuine, after all.

Philip acknowledged Remy Trask’s arrival with a curt nod. “Ms. Trask. Surprised to see you in this setting.”

“Gabriel has placed me and my father on retainer. And Ruby happens to be one of my oldest friends from school.” Remy’s words came sharp and curt. “My father is listening in, just in case. We know about Rivers calling you with a bounty demand on Gabriel. If we can document this behavior—my father has been gathering information against Rivers for the past four years so he can file an ethics complaint with the state. Gabriel is not the first person who has encountered this type of situation with Rivers. Just, as it turns out, the most prominent. The one most likely to make such a charge stick.”

“Good move,” Philip said. “You’re wearing a wire?”

“Yes.”

“Your father will be pleased to hear that I recorded that call from Jesse Rivers and am willing to support an ethics complaint against him. I’ll send you the recording once I know where to forward it.”

“Excellent. Send it to Edward at Trask Law Office dot com. All lower case.” The barest hint of a smile touched Remy’s lips. “So what’s the plan?”

Philip blew hard and slapped his hands together. “I intend to inform Sheriff Rivers that Gabriel Martiniere is my son, the Martiniere-in-waiting, and ask him just who the hell does he think he is, calling me up to demand that I pay him a bounty for Gabriel, dead or alive?”

His words sent cold chills down Ruby’s spine. If she had thought Gabe’s voice carried power, or Gerard’s—this was even more so.

The power of the Martiniere? God, if so—she had to make sure that Gabe was safe. That Philip couldn’t hurt Gabe with his voice anymore.

“HEY GABIE, YOU CHICKENSHIT SON-OF-A-BITCH!” someone yelled from across the street.

Gabe whirled, growling, clenching his fists, putting on the fight-you-to-the-death glare that meant he was furious.

“Joey, YOU ASSHOLE!” He took off running.

Oh fuck. Joey Martiniere. Had to be.

Ruby bolted after Gabe, because in this mood of his, oh, she knew damned good and well what was coming next. All the tensions of the last twenty-four hours coming to a head. Gabe was going to get into a fight, damn it, and that was the last damned thing they needed to have happen.

It might even be an attempt to lure him away from safety—but why had Gabe fallen for this provocation? He wasn’t drunk. Usually that was when Gabe started a fight—is Joey triggering Zingter nanos in Gabe? Somehow?

“Gabriel, don’t be a fucking idiot!” she screamed, realizing that Joey Martiniere had several men with him, probably some sort of security, and damn it, Gabe needed to hold up so they could get their own security around him. At least she didn’t recognize any of the men with Joey Martiniere, so her Barkley cousins weren’t involved.

Her voice paused Gabe just long enough for her and Justine to catch up with him. Lance Helgessen and part of their security detail surrounded them.

“Gabe, don’t,” she gasped.

“That fucking son-of-a-bitch tried to set me up! If Philip hadn’t called—”

“Don’t be stupid, Gabie,” Justine said. “Listen to Ruby. He’s not using your words but he has something going to set you off.”

“Hiding behind women yet again, huh Gabie?” Joey taunted.

“Shut UP!” Ruby bellowed at Joey, projecting as much anger as she dared. Justine and Gabe winced, as did her target.

Joey Martiniere’s jaw flapped soundlessly, and he stared at her for a moment. Ruby quickly assessed him. Not as tall as Gabe, but taller than Philip, who stood a head shorter than Gabe—closer to Justine in height. Brunette hair, like Justine. But heavy-set, face that purplish red flush of a heavy drinker and brawler, bit of a belly on him, pale and soft-muscled—oh, Gabe could beat this man to pieces, easily. Maybe even kill him.

“Who the fuck are you?” Joey finally gathered himself up enough to ask.

“She is the woman I’m going to marry, Joey.” Anger still rode Gabe’s voice but thank God he wasn’t bellowing, wasn’t blindly reacting like he had been. “And that’s all you need to know.”

“What, that bitch?” Joey sneered. “You know what kind of woman she is.”

“Yes.” Gabe’s voice turned icy, enough to make Ruby shiver. “I know exactly what kind of woman she is. I also know what kind of people her Barkley relatives are. You might not want to depend on them for an accurate report on what kind of woman she is.”

“Joseph, get the hell out of here.” Philip came up beside them, that same chill note as Gabe’s in his voice, only more so. “That’s an order.”

“Huh. Since when are you taking Gabie’s side, father?”

“Gabriel is the Martiniere-in-waiting. Along with Justine.”

Joey recoiled. “What? How the hell can she be qualified when I can’t be?” He pointed at Gabe. “And why the hell are you supporting him? Over me, who is your son? He’s just your nephew! Worse, he betrayed you. He testified against the Group! He would have brought us all down! I’m the one who should be the Martiniere after you! I’m your son.”

I don’t believe it. I just don’t believe it. He has the utter gall to accuse Gabe of betraying the Martinieres when—he’s the one who sold their mind control technology.

Philip laughed, that bitter chuckle Ruby was beginning to recognize as one of his characteristics. “Gabriel is my biological son, Joseph. You? Adopted. Your father was Saul Martiniere—and I am so fucking glad that my brother is not alive to see what you became. Gabriel did not betray us to the Brauns. Like you have, Joseph.”

Oh, that revelation had an effect. Joey stared at Philip, mouth working but no words coming out, at least for a few moments.

Huh. He’s nowhere near as sharp as Gabe, is he?

“It’s true, Joey,” Gabe added, his voice softer. “Go look up your birth certificate. I just saw mine, yesterday.” His voice hardened. “But I don’t have much tolerance for a man who would try to sell his own damn sister—our sister, Joey—in order to earn whatever the hell it was that you gained from Braun. Giving him the keys to mind control wasn’t enough? You had to sell Justine as well?”

“She was and is an interfering little bitch.” Joey’s voice took on that chill tone that Gabe and Philip’s voices had earlier. “She’ll knife anyone in the back to climb to the top, including you and our father. Have you investigated what she and that husband of her choice are actually doing?”

Gabe’s lips tightened and his hands clenched into fists. Ruby noticed a similar response from Philip and Justine.

Need to do something. Fast. Stop something worse from happening.

“And you’re anything better?” Her emotions seemed to be key to managing tones, so Ruby punched that last word with every bit of anger she could pull up. Joey winced, and she continued. “From what I’m hearing, you sold out your whole damn Family. For what? If your net worth is anything like Gabe’s, you sure didn’t need the cash.”

“You don’t understand respect, bitch.” Joey’s face flushed even more. Gabe tensed.

“Oh please. I’m not some poor little rich boy running through his fortune and whining about respect that he doesn’t get, because he’s an ass who doesn’t deserve it.” She pushed every bit of the contempt she felt for Joey into her words, and it showed in his reaction.

Her voice seemed to snap Philip out of silence.

“She’s right, Joseph. So is Gabriel. Now. Get the hell out of here. I was stupid to listen to you about Gabriel years ago, and I’m certainly not going to do so now. Could you have managed to survive in exile without your funds for five years, and thrived, like he has? I think not, much to my regret. Leave.”

Oh, the weight of those tones. And Philip’s words raised even more questions for Ruby.

Joey swallowed hard. “All right then. But don’t think you’re getting off easy. Any of you. It’s clear where I stand with this branch of the Family. Fuck you. Fuck you all, losers. You think Gabriel’s done well for himself outside of the Family? Just wait and see what I do!” He whirled and marched off, followed by his entourage.

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