The man swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Mendoza… our man in Tijuana… The Cartel… Carlos's people… they gunned him down in the street."
The air in the gym changed instantly. All the playful tension vanished.
Archer was on his feet in one swift, powerful motion. "Contingency protocol. Everyone in Mexico goes dark. Full extraction. Now."
"Yes, sir!" The lieutenant spun on his heel and fled.
Nora scrambled to her own feet, her mind racing. This was it. An opening. "Mendoza? Carlos? The biggest drug lord in Mexico?" Her voice was sharp with accusation. "You know him right?"
Archer didn't look at her, his profile a tense, hardened line as he processed the crisis. "This doesn't concern you."
"The hell it doesn't!" She stepped forward, grabbing his arm to force him to face her. "He's Interpol's most wanted! I've been building a case against him for a year! If you have evidence on him, hand it over. We can protect you. Interpol will give you full immunity, maybe even a commendation."
Archer finally turned, a single eyebrow arching in cynical amusement. "And what… special… reward do I get from you?"
Nora raised her voice. "Hey! This is helping you too!"
He gave an elegant, dismissive shrug. "Then don't trouble yourself. I can clean up my own messes."
"Fine, what do you want then?" she demanded.
He leaned in close, his voice dropping to an intimate murmur meant only for her. "I want you to stop running from me."
"I need to be out there. Working."
A slow, predatory grin spread across his face. "Agreed. But you come back here. To me. And you stop refusing my kisses. Do we have a deal?"
Nora glared at him. "Don't push it."
Leo couldn't stay silent any longer. He rushed over, inserting himself between them. "Nora, don't listen to him! I can do it! I can hack his network, find the evidence you need! You don't have to make a deal with the devil!"
Archer let out a short, derisive laugh. "You really are a child. The most damning evidence on a man like Carlos is never on a server. It's written on paper, stored in minds, and buried in the desert."
He turned his attention back to Nora, ignoring Leo completely. He leaned in so close their noses almost touched, his eyes holding hers captive. "You still owe me a wish, officer. And I'm calling it in."
Nora's gaze flickered, unable to maintain the intense eye contact. "…Just kisses," she relented, her voice tight. "Nothing more."
"I object!" Leo wailed.
Archer didn't even grant him a glance. "Your objection is noted and dismissed, puppy." His focus was entirely on Nora, a deep, knowing smile playing on his lips. He closed the last inch of distance, his nose brushing against hers in an impossibly intimate, teasing gesture. "It's a deal. And I promise, Nora… I will make you very happy."