Unfinished Business

Chapter 75

The days after the detective's visit felt like a slow march through uncertainty. Que kept his head down, focusin' on Lena and Amina, tryin' to move on from what happened. But the tension between him and Lena was palpable; every little noise, every unexpected call, brought a flicker of anxiety. They were both on edge, waitin' for that other shoe to drop.

One evening, Lena was sittin' on the couch, watchin' Amina playin' with her toys, when Que came in and sat beside her, his hand gently coverin' hers. "We can't keep livin' like this, Lena," he said quietly, his eyes meetin' hers. "I don't want this cloud hangin' over us."

Lena nodded, her face showin' the weight she'd been carryin' since that day. "I've been thinkin' the same thing. We need to move forward... but I can't lie, Que, that detective comin' here—it's changed somethin' in me. I don't want you pulled back into that life."

Que wrapped his arm around her, pullin' her close. "I'm done. For real, Lena. Rico's got his own problems, and I've made it clear I'm out. He knows where I stand, and so does everyone else."

She let out a deep breath, feelin' a bit of that tension ease as she leaned into him. "Let's make a fresh start then, Que. Maybe even get away for a bit, just us and Amina. Clear our minds, focus on the future."

A New Plan

That night, after puttin' Amina to bed, Que and Lena sat down at the kitchen table, talkin' about what their future might look like without the shadow of his old life hangin' over them. They both knew a change was needed, a new start to put the past behind them completely.

"What if we leave this neighborhood?" Lena suggested, her voice soft but steady. "Find somewhere quieter, where we can raise Amina without worryin' about who might be watchin' us?"

Que thought about it, noddin' slowly. "I've been thinkin' the same thing. A house somewhere far from here, maybe a little out of the city. Just somethin' that's ours, you know?"

Lena smiled, her eyes lightin' up at the thought. "We could build somethin' new together, somethin' for Amina too. No more old memories, no more ties to any of this."

They talked long into the night, sketchin' out their dream of a life free from the past, where Que's focus would be on their family, on buildin' somethin' safe and strong for Amina. By the time they went to bed, they had a plan—a vision for what their future could be.

The Next Morning

Que woke up with a sense of purpose he hadn't felt in a long time. He spent the day lookin' into new neighborhoods, reachin' out to contacts about properties, tryin' to find a place that felt like a fresh start. Lena joined him, excited and hopeful, pourin' through listings as they dreamed about their next chapter together.

As the day went on, they found a small, quiet community on the outskirts of town, a perfect spot with a cozy house surrounded by trees. It was a place where they could finally let go, a place where they could raise Amina away from the shadows of Que's old life.

A Moment of Peace

That evening, Que and Lena took a drive to see the house. They parked out front, takin' in the peaceful surroundings, listenin' to the quiet. Que held Lena's hand as they walked around, imaginin' their life there. For the first time in a long time, he felt truly free.

They stood in silence for a while, just takin' in the moment. Lena looked up at him, a soft smile on her face. "This is it, Que. This is the fresh start we've been needin'."

Que nodded, feelin' a deep sense of gratitude. "Yeah, this is it. Just us, our family, and a clean slate. Ain't nothin' more I could ask for."

As they drove back home, Que felt the weight of his past finally startin' to lift. This was the life he wanted, the future he was willin' to fight for. And he knew, with Lena by his side, they could build somethin' beautiful together, leavin' the shadows behind for good.