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The redhead beamed at her and rushed into Leah’s arms. “It’s really you.”

Leah hugged the woman while questions bombarded her mind, jumping over one another trying to get out. Finally, she pulled away and picked the most immediate one. “What are you doing here?”

Emily’s smile wavered for a second. “You look good. I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” And it was the truth.

As much as Leah hated the Compound, she missed her friends. Emily was a few years younger than her, and they had grown up together. Ever since Emily had arrived in the Compound in a catatonic state after the Organization had rescued her from a vampire, Leah had always looked after her. Emily was one of the reasons she had slept with Dmitri, and one of the three she wished would leave the Organization with her if she succeeded in her mission.

“Is everything okay?” Leah asked again when Emily stayed silent.

“Yes, everything is fine.” Emily darted nervous glances around them. She was terrified of vampires because of her past. Leah’s brows furrowed. What was the woman doing so close to Vegas?

Emily swung her backpack to the front and bit her lips. “I have orders from Dmitri.”

Leah’s stomach dropped. She’d known he would contact her, just not like this.

“What does he want? Is he here?” Now it was her turn to look around them. They were alone.

“No, he… he sent me to give you these.” Emily unzipped her backpack. The dread that had pooled in Leah’s middle transformed into tendrils of ice.

The bag contained two items. A gun. Standard issue for rookie Hunters. A modified Glock 9 that shot silver bullets. The other—Leah suppressed a shiver—was a silver stake, about the same size as the Glock.

If Dmitri was giving her a silver stake, there was only one thing he wanted.

“Who do I have to kill?”

Emily licked her lips and looked all around them again, fear written all over her features. “Julian Blackmore,” she whispered as though the name would summon Julian immediately.

Dmitri knew. Of course he did. He’d heard everything Gabriella had told her. Her insides numb, Leah took the weapons and slipped them into her purse.

Kill Julian.

Julian. Dead. Gone.

A sharp pain lanced through her chest. Leah staggered against the force and placed a hand on the tower wall to steady herself.

“Leah, are you okay?” Emily asked, her eyes wide with worry.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine.” No, she couldn’t do it. Julian was a domineering, arrogant, and conceited vampire, too used to getting his way, but he didn’t deserve to die. His world may be violent, but he wasn’t an indiscriminate and soulless killer. She couldn’t do that to him. She’d rather stab herself.

“Come with me.” Emily’s lips quivered. “You can’t do it. It’s a death sentence! Let’s talk to Dmitri. Maybe… maybe we can change his mind.”

“No, don’t worry about me.” Leah straightened. Dmitri had sent Emily on purpose to remind her of what was at stake. Should she tell Emily about her deal with Dmitri? Before she could weigh the pros and cons, a familiar savage presence shimmered at the back of Leah’s mind. Her heartrate picked up. “You need to go.”

“But—”

“Go, now. I’ll get it done.” The last part was said for Dmitri’s benefit.

“Please be careful.”

“I will, and I won’t do anything stupid. Go!”

Emily nodded at Leah’s solemn promise, gave her another quick hug, and melted into the darkness, leaving Leah alone with her turbulent thoughts and the two weapons that weighed a thousand pounds in her purse.

Aware of Julian approaching, Leah considered her options. Silver was forbidden in Vegas.Makes sense, considering their deadly effect on the vampires.There was no telling what Julian, what any of the vampires, would do if they found the weapons on her.

She could throw them away. Toss them into the shadowed corners of the Ruins.