Luke Callas; The Underworld King

A Past He Buried

Her hand paused briefly over her glass, Luke observed.

"Northbridge?"

"Yes."

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Because someone has been transferring money from my company's reserve account to them."

Victoria took a sip of wine.

"Maybe it's one of your business partners."

Luke scoffed. "I've never heard of them."

"Then investigate it."

"I'm already doing that."

Luke studied her face.

"Again, have you ever come across the name, maybe from somewhere, friends or—"

"No."

Her answer came quickly, too quickly, almost like she was annoyed, but Luke didn't think much of it,

he nodded and returned to his meal.

Victoria watched him for a moment before forcing a smile.

"Luke?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever regretted leaving the military?"

He looked at her.

"Why would you ask me that?"

"I was just wondering, shouldn't I be allowed to?"

Luke leaned back, his eyes seemed to be seeing something else.

"Sometimes... I do."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but not because I miss the battlefield, I don't."

He paused.

"But there are things I miss, the people, the discipline, the feeling that I knew exactly what I was supposed to do."

Victoria listened quietly, before finally asking the question.

"Why then did you leave?"

Luke gave her a small smile, but deep inside the question took him unawares.

"Do I really need to answer that, babe?"

She lowered her eyes to her food. "I suppose not."

He released a deep breath, as he reached across the table and held her hands.

"I left because I wanted a life with you, I wanted something beyond military operations, deployments, and the battles— I wanted something peaceful."

Victoria looked at their joined hands, and said nothing for a few seconds, then she gently withdrew her hand.

"I'm tired. I think I'll go upstairs."

Luke nodded. "Alright. I'll join you shortly."

She stood up and walked away, he watched her climb the stairs.

Something about their conversation had felt strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Perhaps he was simply tired or maybe he's already used to it, he picked up his glass and took another sip.

Outside, the city continued moving, cars passed along the streets, buildings stood illuminated against the night sky, and thousands of people went about their lives without knowing that somewhere beneath the surface of their ordinary world, something far more dangerous existed.

Luke Callas knew nothing about that world, at least not yet.

---

At 11:37 p.m., Luke's phone vibrated.

He was still in his office, reviewing the documents Daniel had sent earlier.

A new message appeared.

Daniel: Sir, I've completed the preliminary investigation. There's something you need to see. I think you should come to the office tomorrow morning. It's urgent.

Luke stared at the message, he immediately called.

The phone rang twice before Daniel answered.

"Sir."

"What did you find?"

There was a brief silence.

"Someone has been using your executive credentials to authorize the transfers."

"I already know that." His voice rose a little.

"There's more."

Luke straightened in his chair.

"Go on."

"We traced the transactions through several offshore accounts, the money isn't going to Northbridge Holdings directly. It's being moved through multiple organizations."

"Did you discover who owns them?"

"We're still investigating."

Luke rubbed his forehead.

"Daniel, I don't want half answers. Find out who's behind this."

"I will, Sir. But there's another problem."

"You cannot be serious. What?"

Daniel lowered his voice.

"Someone accessed your personal records this afternoon, your military service documents, security clearance history, and old operational files."

Luke's expression hardened.

"Why the hell would anyone want those?"

"I don't know, sir."

Luke looked towards the office door, for the first time that evening, he felt something he hadn't experienced in years.

Unease.

"Listen carefully, Daniel. Don't access those files again until I get there, keep everything you've found secured, and don't discuss this with anyone."

"Understood, sir."

Luke ended the call, for a few seconds he sat motionless, staring at the dark computer screen.

Then he stood up, collected his documents, and switched off the office lights.

He walked out the room, his mind clouded. Destination his room, years ago such kind of unease would lead him into drinking but for tonight, the bed felt like a better comfort.

---

6:45A.M. — Manhattan, New York.

Luke Callas was already awake when his phone began ringing, he reached for it on the beside table and glanced at the screen.

Daniel Reed.

He answered immediately.

"Good morning, Daniel."

"Morning Sir. We have a problem."

"Its barely up to seven, Daniel."

"Its urgent, I wouldn't call otherwise."

Luke sat up, half way up, he was yawning.

"What happened?"

"Its your father, chief."

Luke's expression changed.

"What about him?"

Daniel hesitated.

"He was found dead these morning, Sir."