Lauren paced around the bedroom furiously, she wiped away an angry tear that slid down her cheek. This could not be happening. She'd almost died. Thanks to a man she trusted. Thanks to a man she wasn't supposed to care about.

She spun around as she hear the door open. She put on her best fight face and walked right up to him.

*SMACK!*

His head whipped to the side as an instant hand print formed on the side of his face. She instantly thought about what a bad idea that had been, but instead of fighting back he just clenched his jaw.

"Feel better?" he asked.

"No, not really. I wish it was that easy." She spat at him, shaking with hurt and anger. "How could you?" she hissed.

"I had no choice, it's my job." He said, placing his hand on his hips as she paced back and forth.

"You're a fucking arms dealer, Ian. Not a fucking hit man," she said pointing a finger at him.

"Yes, I am. And part of my business is eliminating the competition." Ian said matter-of-factly.

"So you took a shot at me?" She said, in utter shock that he'd been so willing to take her out.

"I had a sniper placed, yes. But not for you love, for your… business associate." Ian said placing a calming hand up.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT WITH ME SO CLOSE?" She cried.

Here come the water works, she thought, as she felt burning tears sting her eyes.

"I never meant for you to be in danger, Lauren!" Ian said, getting defensive.

"Is that why Chloe left you? huh? because you got too close to taking her out? So close to killing her that she abandoned you and her own child?" Lauren hissed again, getting in his face.

She could see the rage building up inside him. He was rising to the edge, but she didn't care. She wanted a fight. She was so angry and hurt that he'd come so close to killing her, she wanted a little payback.

"You already know what happened to that bitch." Ian said through clenched teeth.

"I can't do this anymore, Ian." She said, turning away from him. The anger was starting to fade and the hurt was sinking in. He was willing to put her life on the line to take out the competition.

"What about me, Ian?" She said turning back to face him. "What if I become too much of a competitor? You gonna take me out too?" She said letting the tears fall now.

"Lauren, I would NEV—" he began.

"No, really, Ian. How long? How long til I end up in a landfill somewhere!" She yelled.

He strode up to her grabbing her by the shoulders forcibly.

"Lauren!" He yelled. She froze, trying to shrug off his touch. She refused to look at him, to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

"Love, I would do everything in my POWER to make sure nothing EVER happens to you." He said placing gentle hands on the side of her face. She still looked away. She couldn't look him in the eyes, they would melt her and she knew it.

"Ian I—" she began, before she knew it, his lips were on hers pushing her towards the bed, ripping her clothes off.

Minutes later they were done, breathing heavy and Ian's body still on top of her, he whispered, "Love, look at me." She reluctantly obeyed. "I will never risk your life again, I swear on my son's life. Never again." he said, gazing into her brown eyes intensely.

She swallowed, she couldn't form words right now, not with his gorgeous blue eyes boring into hers. She nodded, "I know," she forced out.

"I promise," he said, kissing her gently.

"You wanna know how I know that?" She said, raising an eyebrow at him.

"How?"

"Because next time, I'll kill you." She said firmly. She propped herself up underneath him.

"And I don't miss, Ian." She whispered in his ear, smiling evilly, pushing him off of her.