Stone Cold by Devon Monk

some people from the area to take a look around. The entire building is empty. No one’s there.”
    â€œDo you have records? Eyewitnesses who saw him?” Terric had suddenly snapped into ex-head of the Authority mode. He was all about dotting i’s and crossing t’s during times like this.
    At times like this, I was all about getting out of the work he’d want to saddle me with.
    I pushed away from the rail. “Well, then. I’ll leave you boys to it. Thanks for the beer.” I took a step toward the house.
    A shadow darkened the doorway, then moved just enough to let the light fall on her features. Sunny, Davy’s girlfriend.
    â€œIf you take one step off this porch, Flynn, I will hunt you down. You owe me.”
    The others fell silent and each gave Sunny a measuring gaze, then looked at me to see what I’d do.
    I didn’t have to guess what she was talking about. I owed her a favor, and it looked like she’d come to collect on it.

Chapter 5
    SHAME
    Zayvion strolled over to Sunny, faced off in front of her, the width of his shoulders and body pretty much blocking her view of me. It effectively broke our staring contest.
    â€œLet’s have this conversation inside,” he said calmly. “Over coffee. Have you eaten?”
    â€œI’m not hungry.”
    â€œPlenty of food left.” He placed his hand on her arm kindly.
    So I must not be the only one who saw how badly Davy’s kidnapping had worn her down. Zay shifted so she could see past him again.
    She glanced at me. Waited to see what I’d do. She was too pale, lack of sleep shadowing her eyes. Being a Blood magic user, being a Hound, meant she’d seen plenty of shit in her days. But Davy disappearing wasn’t just another shitty day on the job. She loved him.
    And love made a person go through all sorts of hell.
    No need for me to be one of her hells.
    â€œYou know what? I’m starving,” I said. “Let’s get some food.”
    â€œFine.” She turned, walked inside. Zay threw me a quick look of approval before walking in behind her.
    Terric and Dash waited for me to follow, so that pretty much closed off my escape route.
    While I was all for dealing with whatever Sunny wanted from me, the hunger that wouldn’t be satisfied with food rolled knuckles against my gut and squeezed at my heart.
    Death was hungry, and the Life magic Terric had fed it wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy.
    Plan: Give Sunny whatever she wanted, then go out and kill something. Also, drink more beer.
    I strolled back inside.
    Zayvion calmly announced that he and Allie had enjoyed everyone coming over, but that Allie was tired now, and could everyone please head home.
    Apparently I’d been out on the porch long enough ignoring the living world that they’d gotten through gifts and food and all the rest of the baby doings.
    Good-byes were said, hugs and handshakes exchanged, and the house cleared out pretty quickly.
    â€œWe need a beer run?” I asked when the last Hound, guest, and even Violet, my mum, and Nola were all on their way. “Be happy to score us some hooch.”
    â€œPlenty of beer in the fridge,” Zay said, patting my shoulder as he walked past me toward the sink with empty coffee cups in his other hand.
    Stuck with the living in a no-kill zone. Good times.
    Dash had somehow talked Sunny into actually trying the food and was talking to her quietly in the corner of the kitchen while they both ate.
    She leaned against the counter mostly watching me. I didn’t know what she wanted, but I knew the favor she’d given me.
    Back a few months ago I’d killed Terric’s boyfriend. I hadn’t told Terric about it. I hoped I wouldn’t ever have to tell him, but if it came up, I wasn’t going to lie or defend my actions. Jeremy had been a grade-A asshole. He’d hurt Terric.
    I’d taken care of that problem.
    But Sunny had helped me track him