Ignorance Is

Chapter 7

Tiff pulled over under a bridge, right beside a deep ravine, and immediately jumped out of the car.

"Look, I can explain—"

"Yo, what the fuck is all this?" I yelled.

"Baby, just listen. I can explain everything."

I crossed my arms, forcing myself to calm down.
Yeah. I'm waiting for this magical explanation.

Soon after, Do, Pop, and Tank woke up and stepped out of the car.

"Yo, what's going on?" Do said, looking around. "What the fuck is all this?"

Then it hit him.

"Yo—where the fuck is CJ?" he yelled, panic in his voice.

"CJ?" Pop snapped. "Where the fuck is Piggy?"

"What are you talking about?" Tiff asked.

"I was heading toward the Barkly Center," Do said slowly, trying to piece it together. "I saw Piggy and Vanessa walking that way too. Next thing I know, some dudes jumped me. I blacked out. But before I went out... I remember Piggy and Vanessa just standing there, watching."

That was it.

"That's all I remember."

"What the..." Tiffany whispered, stunned.

"So you saying Piggy really had something to do with all this?" Tank asked.

"Yeah," I said. "He did. Piggy tried to blow my brains out, but Tony stopped him. He wanted the 36 connect."

Tiff stumbled over to the sidewalk and sat down hard. She dropped her head between her legs, hands gripping her hair, shaking.

"What's wrong, Tiff?" Pop asked. "Piggy your man or something?"

"I don't give a fuck what he is," I snapped. "When I find that nigga, he's dead."

"Tahron, just wait a damn minute," she said.

"Wait for what?" I exploded. "I just told you that fool was about to off me, and you want me to wait? Nah. Fuck that. Why should I wait, Tiff?"

"Because—"

"Because why?"

"BECAUSE HE'S FUCKING FBI!"

Everything froze.

"Wait..." Do said slowly. "You said FBI?"

"Yes," Tiff said quietly. "He's an FBI agent. And so am I."

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" everyone yelled at once.

"And before you ask," a voice said from behind us, "yeah... me too."

"Random guy stepped out of the car", My name is Raviel.

"You were part of an ongoing investigation," he continued. "Tiffany and I are undercover FBI. Now that our identities are compromised, you and your friends have two choices—help us take down Hermon, or go down with everyone else."

"What the fuuuuuck..."

I walked away in disbelief. My chest felt tight. I wanted to scream. Cry. Throw up.

"So all this time..." I turned back. "You was lying to me?"

"Tahron—"

"Don't." My voice cracked. "You shiesty as fuck, you know that?"

She didn't respond. Her head dropped. Tears welled up, and for the first time, Tiff looked... human. Vulnerable.

"Listen, Tahron," Raviel said. "What's it gonna be? Because we can take you in right now."

That's when it happened.

About twenty FBI agents stepped out from the shadows, guns drawn, surrounding us.

"Shiesty motherfuckers," I muttered.

I looked at Do, Pop, and Tank. Shock. Anger. Confusion.

"Come on, old school," Raviel demanded. "What's it gonna be?"

I turned back to Tiff. She was facing away.

"Look at me," I said. "LOOK AT ME, DAMMIT."

She slowly turned around, holding back tears.

"I told you everything about me," I said. "And this is how you repay me? Don't ever call me again after this. Ever."

She knew I meant it.

The tears fell. She tried to speak, but her voice cracked. Instead, she turned and walked away.

I faced Raviel.

"So what the fuck do we get out of all this?"

He hesitated. "What do you want?"

"I want all my niggas pardoned. Not just us. Everybody. I want Jason's, Shaq's, and CJ's families to get the payment I was supposed to receive this month. And I want a clean cover story."

"No money for the rest of y'all?" Raviel asked.

"We ain't gonna need it," Pop said, cutting in. I nodded. Same page.

"One last thing," I said. "Clean our records."

"I don't—"

"Clean records," I interrupted, "or Hermon walks. You won't arrest me right now—you need me."

Raviel stood there silently.

Then finally... "Done. But that's gonna take time. And a lot of phone calls."

"Make it happen."

We turned to walk off.

"You don't need a ride back?" Tiff called out.

I glanced at her one last time.

"Nah. I don't fuck with pigs. We'll walk."

We took a few steps before I stopped and turned back.

"One more thing," I said. "Why do you even need us to take down Hermon?"

Raviel wiped sweat from his forehead, hesitating.

"Because Hermon doesn't touch anything. Makes it hard to pin shit on him."

"But...?" I pressed.

He sighed.

"Because Hermon... is also FBI."

WHAT THE FUCK?!