About Realization:
The indentured labor wars heat up as Ruby Barkley and Gabriel Martiniere struggle with medical complications that interfere with their fight to stop the sinister goals of Gabe’s father Philip. Discoveries by their son Brandon about the degree to which Philip and the family corporation, the Martiniere Group, are involved in unethical, interdicted human experimentation push them into accepting a questionable treatment to speed their recovery.
Philip’s direct challenge initiates Gabe’s final push to take over the Martiniere Group. Ruby and Brandon consolidate family support behind Gabe. When a high-profile assassination attempt at a political banquet reveals the existence of cyborged Martiniere descendants and clones of Philip intended to provide him with replacement parts, Ruby and Gabe must take action. One clone—Michael—still survives.
Along with their bid to win control of the Martiniere empire, Ruby and Gabe now face the dilemma of what is to be done with Michael. Can they save both the family and Philip’s clone—or should they even try?
The realization of their dreams is within Ruby and Gabe’s reach. Can they fulfill it while still remaining true to themselves?
Excerpt:
A single ray of early morning sunlight through one of the arena windows suddenly illuminated an elongated rectangle on the dark soil of the freshly watered footing. As the chestnut mare Casey approached the lighted rectangle, Ruby Barkley kept an eye on Casey and her rider, Ruby’s husband Gabriel Martiniere. Ruby vibrated the lunge line slightly to remind Casey that she was watching.
Casey flicked her ears and arched her neck to eye the spot of light suspiciously as she trotted over it, but showed no other reaction. Gabe laughed and raised his arms from his sides where he’d dropped them protectively.
“Wasn’t sure about that one,” Gabe said. He spread his arms wide, swaying slightly as he sought to find his balance in the dressage saddle once again. Casey twitched her ears back to focus on Gabe, and halted due to his unsteady seat. Gabe growled and clucked Casey back up to the trot. “Mare, I don’t need that much babysitting!”
“It’s good for you, Gabe!” Petra Marks, Gabe’s physical therapist, called from the arena gate where she and Gabe’s doctor, Amy Caruthers, watched. “Work that core! You need it.”
“She’s pickier about my weight shifts than she was a week ago,” Gabe grumbled.
“Casey is very reactive to rider balance,” Ruby said. “And a week ago you were in my old barrel racing saddle with the extra-stiff fenders to keep your legs steady. Plus, you were only walking. You want to be pushed? I’ll switch the dressage saddle out for my close contact jumper.”
“No, this saddle is enough of a challenge. Even with knee and thigh blocks.” Gabe kept his arms up as Casey approached the rectangle again. Casey started to slow as they approached her palomino daughter, Legacy, who was tied to an arena post and fussing. Gabe’s legs tightened on her sides to urge her back into the steady two-beat jog. “Though it would be nice to lope.”
“Not yet. You need to be stronger,” Ruby said, biting her lip as she watched Gabe’s face tighten with the strain of keeping himself upright. He was working harder to stay steady than he wanted to admit, and it hurt her to see the struggle. When younger, Gabe had been a saddle bronc rider capable of dancing with the biggest, boldest, craftiest bucking horses, using a deft mix of balance and strength to stay aboard until the eight-second buzzer sounded. But the G9 virus—and the relapse just three weeks ago triggered by an enemy’s injection of weaponized G9—impaired that mixture of skill and strength.
Luckily the Chan Protocol for G9 treatment appeared to be working. Gabe had gotten back on his feet within a week. According to their son Brandon, who had cared for Gabe during his initial attack, this recovery progressed much faster.
Wherever Brandon is now, Ruby fretted. His visits to Ruby and Gabe’s home ranch, the Double R, were furtive and quick, between his appearances as the public face of the indentured labor reform movement. Rebellion stirred in the assorted indentured labor pools around the US, and Brandon’s girlfriend Kris Markey and her sister Pat were in hiding.Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple | Angus & Robertson
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