The Obsidian Lead

A pair of pointed heels struck the floorboards near the front door, breaking the stillness of the apartment.

Alessio sprang from the sofa, dropping a worn deck of playing cards onto the cushions where he had been nervously shuffling them for hours.

“You’re back,” he blurted out, stepping toward her. “Tell me you found something out there.”

Chiara tossed her purse onto the kitchen counter and