"I suppose." Austin sipped his coffee.

"So I went there last night to look around."

He gulped. "You went by yourself?"

"Yes. You go on your stake-outs alone. Why shouldn't I?"

"Because hunting for vampires in Central Park is not a stake-out. You could have come across one of them."

She rolled her eyes. "That was the idea. Don't worry. I had a few stakes with me."

Austin snorted. "Haven't you been reading the reports? These vampires are super fast and strong."

She sauntered toward the fridge and removed a bottle of water. "I can take care of myself."

"I know." The one time he'd taken her on in a practice session, he'd found himself flat on his back with stars swirling around his head. "But I don't think you should go alone."

"Why not?" She unscrewed the bottle top. "They're probably looking for lone females."

"Wait a minute. You're setting yourself up as bait?"

She shrugged one shoulder and took a sip of water. "If I can draw one in, I'll kill him. That is our mission, isn't it?"

"What if several of them gang up on you? It's way too dangerous."

She sighed. "I shouldn't have told you." She cast him an injured look. "I thought you would understand."

Dammit. He should tell her she was irresponsible and crazy, but he hated being that blunt to a woman. Besides, her vampire hunting sounded like something he would do.

"Are you going to tell Sean?" she asked.

With their boss already livid over his daughter's upcoming marriage, Austin wasn't that big a glutton for punishment. "I'll have to think about it. Did you see any vampires last night?"

"Unfortunately, no."

"Good. There are only five of us, Emma. We can't afford to lose you, so think before you play the hero." He trudged back to his desk. Crazy woman, hunting vampires all alone.