The rain had finally stopped, leaving behind a city that glistened in the pale moonlight. Ethan and Raven moved swiftly through the narrow streets of Budapest, their breath visible in the cool night air. The adrenaline from the earlier confrontation had yet to fade, but there was no time to dwell on it. They had to regroup, plan their next move, and most importantly, figure out what the Valkyries were planning.
Ethan led the way, his mind racing as he considered their options. Trusting Raven was a risk, but it was one he had to take. The Valkyries were not just a threat to him—they were a threat to the world. And right now, Raven was the only one with inside knowledge of their plans.
"We need to find a secure location," Ethan said, breaking the silence between them. "Somewhere we can lay low and figure out our next move."
Raven glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "I have a safe house not far from here. It's off the grid, secure. We can talk there."
Ethan nodded, though a part of him remained wary. He had spent years working alone, relying only on himself. Now, he was placing his life in the hands of someone who had once been one of his enemies.
They reached the safe house—a small, unassuming apartment tucked away in a quiet part of the city. Raven led him inside, securing the door behind them with a series of locks and security measures that would have made even the most paranoid spy proud.
The interior of the safe house was spartan, with minimal furnishings and no personal touches. It was clear that this was a place meant for survival, not comfort. A small table in the center of the room held a laptop, various weapons, and a map of Europe marked with red pins in several locations.
Ethan took a seat, his eyes scanning the map. "What are these locations?"
"Valkyrie safe houses and operational centers," Raven replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "They're scattered across Europe, each one running a different aspect of the Serpent's Fang operations. Weapons smuggling, cyber warfare, human trafficking—you name it, they're involved."
Ethan's gaze narrowed as he studied the map. "And this one?" He pointed to a pin in Berlin, larger than the others and marked in black.
"That's the hub," Raven said, sitting down across from him. "The heart of their operations. If we can hit it, we can cripple the entire organization."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, processing the information. The Valkyries were far more organized than he had anticipated. This wasn't just a rogue group of operatives—they were running a full-scale global syndicate with military precision.
"We can't just walk into their hub and expect to take them down," Ethan said, his voice edged with frustration. "We need a plan. We need allies."
Raven's eyes hardened. "Allies? Like who? The agency you work for? They'll hang you out to dry the moment they get the chance. And as for allies on the ground, anyone who crosses the Valkyries ends up dead."
Ethan met her gaze, his own resolve hardening. "Then we'll have to make our own luck. We hit their smaller operations first, disrupt their network, make them bleed. And when they're weakened, we go for the hub."
Raven was silent for a moment, her eyes searching his as if weighing his words. Finally, she nodded. "All right. But if we're doing this, we do it my way. I know how they think, how they operate. We'll need to be two steps ahead at all times, or they'll take us out before we even get close."
Ethan didn't like the idea of relinquishing control, but he knew she was right. Raven had been one of them—she knew their tactics, their weaknesses. If they were going to survive this, they needed every advantage they could get.
"Fine," Ethan agreed. "But the moment I think you're leading us into a trap, I'll take you out myself."
Raven smirked, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Fair enough. Now, let's get to work."
They spent the next few hours poring over the map, identifying potential targets and planning their approach. Each Valkyrie base was heavily fortified, with layers of security that would make any direct assault a suicide mission. But Raven knew the ins and outs of their operations, and she had a plan.
"Our first target is here," Raven said, pointing to a pin in Prague. "It's a weapons depot, one of the largest in their network. If we take it out, we'll cripple their supply lines and send a message that we're coming for them."
Ethan nodded, already thinking ahead. "We'll need explosives, a diversion, and a clean exit route. How many guards?"
"A dozen, maybe more," Raven replied. "But we won't have to fight them all. We can take out the perimeter guards, plant the charges, and be gone before they even know what hit them."
Ethan liked the plan—it was bold, risky, but it played to their strengths. If they could pull this off, it would be the first step in dismantling the Valkyries' empire.
"All right," Ethan said, standing up. "We move at dawn. Get some rest—we'll need to be at the top of our game for this."
Raven nodded, but as Ethan turned to leave, she called after him. "Ethan."
He paused, looking back at her. Her expression had softened, and for a moment, she looked almost vulnerable.
"Why did you join the agency?" she asked, her voice quieter now. "Why do you keep doing this, knowing what it costs?"
Ethan was silent for a long moment, the question hanging in the air between them. Finally, he spoke, his voice low, almost resigned.
"Because someone has to," he said simply. "Someone has to stand up to people like them, or they'll keep getting away with it. And if that means getting my hands dirty, so be it."
Raven studied him, her expression unreadable. "You're a good man, Ethan. But don't let that be your downfall."
Ethan didn't reply. He simply turned and walked out of the room, leaving Raven alone with her thoughts.
As he lay down on the small, uncomfortable cot in the next room, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking a razor's edge. The Valkyries were dangerous, but so was Raven. She was an enigma, a former enemy now turned ally—or at least, that's what she wanted him to believe.
But in this world of shadows and deception, trust was a luxury he couldn't afford. All he could do was stay one step ahead, keep his wits about him, and hope that when the time came, he'd make the right call.
Because one thing was certain—the storm was just beginning, and Ethan Drake was right in the eye of it.
END OF CHAPTER 2
By- Saketh Raja