Nightmares in Pink

By Forever Redd

Labeled as one of the dirtiest states on the map, South Carolina breeds within the poverty-stricken communities and sows the fruit of deceit, treachery, and greed. Shantanelle Bovain, offspring of the state, derives a plan to make some quick cash, but it backfires when she crosses paths with the infamous, Rolex. A business deal gone badly leaves her with, a kidnapped cousin and a bill that she is unable to pay. It’s a race against time to free her cousin and possibly save her own life, so she stops at nothing to settle her debt. Shantanelle is equipped to lie, cheat and steal, but she isn't prepared for murder. Her reality is more than a bad dream; it's a nightmare.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Forever Redd
• Release date: Oct 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005940171

Forever Redd

Forever Redd is a South Carolina native who enjoys reading a good book, just as much as writing one. Her first of a three-part series, Sleepin’ In Heaven Wakin’ In Hell, debuted in December of 2013, and following in its footsteps were, Sleep No More and Blessed By the Fire. The connection between the main characters forced her pen into the Erotica Genre where she revealed her first erotic novella, Freakizm. Shortly thereafter, Forever Redd collaborated with Hood Chronicles, and together they released, Sadistic Saturdays, an Erotic novel. Forever Redd didn’t stop there; she penned a three-part, Urban fiction series titled, Nightmares In Pink. Determined to make a mark in the literary industry, Forever Redd stayed the course and completed her catalog with The Devil’s Mouth, and Uber Everywhere.With the year 2020 bringing about senseless gun violence, unwarranted deaths, and a pandemic, Forever Redd was compelled to tap into her ancestral roots and pen the Historical Thriller, Black Ivory.Forever Redd is an eclectic individual that’s on a mission to deliver an experience through her words. Although the genres may vary, the quality never wavers. Her goal in the literary industry is to have all of her works, Forever Redd.

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Nightmares In Pink

Nightmares In Pink

By: Forever Redd

Copyright 2015 by Forever Redd, Nightmares In Pink

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in review.

First edition, 2015

Printed in the United States of America

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living, or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Acknowledgments

As always, I must begin by thanking the Big Man upstairs, because without him, none of this would have been possible. Thank you, Jesus!

Tiaz, Raelyn, Jordan and Davia, The only thing that changed is the order of your names. Y’all are more than my reason to write, but my reason to live. Thank y’all so much for holding me down. I love y’all more than all the words, in all the books, in all the world!

Kisha, things that are understood need no explanation. I love you, girl!

Cynthia Curry, I gotta thank you for being by my side the loooong way! I appreciate ya, Fee!

Royal Nicole, you know what it is Baby girl! Thanks for everything!

Everybody that has followed, liked, or shared any of my work, via social media, thank you so much for all that you do. Your support never goes unnoticed. Again, I thank ya!

Prologue

What the fuck! Shantanelle screamed as the door burst open.

Shut the fuck up, bitch. You know what this is. Put yo’ hands in the air, or find yo’ brain on the flo’, the masked gunman barked.

Please, don’t hurt us. My baby is in the back! Oh, God, please don’t hurt us or my baby, Shantanelle begged.

Corrine fearfully watched the action. She wanted to help, but she didn’t know what was going on. About a month prior, her mother had thrown her out and she had gone to live with her cousin.

She wasn’t a bad girl, but she was slack. Her mouth could be a bit much, but her heart was just as pure as her body. Corrine was virgin to the street and without knowing what else to do, she prayed. Corrine fell to her knees and asked God to surround them with His grace and mercy and protect them from their enemies.

The enemies. There were six of them, all draped in black from head to toe. Their heads were wrapped in what appeared to be turbans and a piece of material covered the lower halves of their faces. Only their eyes were visible, but even they were as dark as the depths of Hell. Twelve hands, all of which, were brandishing weapons. Although only one spoke, the silent ones’ presence was deadly.

What do you want? Corrine screamed.

Bitch! Shut the fuck up! This ain;t got shit to do wit’ you, but if you wanna make it personal, the gunman paused and shoved his guns to her temples. You wanna introduce yoself to my potnahs? To my left, life and to my right, death.

Corrine closed her mouth as instructed and then shook her head in the negative. Whatever he and his nickel-plated friends were offering, she wanted no parts of.

Aye, Shantanelle, one of the gunmen called out. You got that loot, or nah?

I have most of it, but I…I can have it by tomorrow, I swear, Shantanelle pleaded.

Wrong answer, the gunman replied before sending a bullet through the wall, just above her head.

Aaarrgghhh, the girls screamed in unison and tears rolled down their cheeks.

The talking gunman instructed one of his partners to search the house, while the shooter kept an eye on the girls. The two-bedroom apartment didn’t require much of a search party and shortly thereafter, searcher returned.

Aye, cuz! Look what I got out the back, the searcher said, as he walked Tariq into the living room. Wonder if his lil’ ass got that bread? he chuckled.

Click, click. Two guns cocked.

Wait! Corinne screamed and threw her hands in the air. Wait, please wait. He’s only a baby! Please don’t hurt him. I can help with what she owes. I got a job! Just please, don’t hurt my lil’ cousin.

Aye, shawty, this ain’t ‘bout money, this ‘bout principle. Since you don’t seem to know what the fuck going on, let Shantanelle tell you why we here.

I borrowed some weed…

The gunman slapped Shantanelle so hard, her lip was split instantly. Bitch! How the fuck you borrow something with no intentions of giving it back? he roared. Nah, you ain’t borrow shit. As far as I’m concerned, you stole from me. So, tell me again. Why should I give a fuck ‘bout stealing from you?

You right! Please! Take anything you want, just don’t hurt my baby. I...I got valuable shit, take it! I can get you the money tomorrow, I swear, Shantanelle pleaded.

Tomorrow, the gunman repeated and then turned to Corrine. Until then, Lil mama, you comin’ wit us.

As fear set in on Corrine’s face, the size of her eyes almost tripled in size. She made an honest attempt to protest; she refused to be a victim. Feeling as if they took her away, she’d be dead before day broke, Corrine found some courage.

Hold up! You got me fucked up, she attempted, but a gun to her head put her mouth on pause.

Nah, bitch, you got me fucked up, the gunman said angrily. What were you saying?

Corrine lost it. Shantanelle, say something, do something! Don’t let them take me, what the fuck? she cried.

Unfortunately, Shantanelle didn’t even part her lips and the look on her face said a mouthful, relief, and satisfaction. The gunmen let her, and her baby live, so fuck the rest.

When it seemed as though the gunman was a little relaxed, Corrine attempted to bolt for the door and run for her life, but a blow to the back of the head stopped her dead in her tracks. The girl was thrown over a gunman’s shoulder before her body even hit the tattered carpet. In a single file line, the gunman left just as they came, but with one more.

Knowing the code of the street, Shantanelle didn’t call the cops. Instead, she prayed for Corrine’s safety. Her cousin getting kidnapped was her fault, but she couldn’t dwell. She had to figure out a way to get that dude his money, but first, Shantanelle had to get that monkey off her back.

Chapter 1

Chapter Growing up for, Corrine Evans could have been quite simple, but lack of discipline disrupted her happy home and instead, sent her down a highway to Hell. Her mother was a single parent who worked two jobs to see that her daughter kept a roof over her head and never went hungry.

Corrine’s mother pacified her with materialistic items, but it did nothing to fill the void of her absentee father, so she acted out. Nothing too drastic; skipped a few classes here and there, smoked the light green, but she never involved the law in her foolery. Corrine thought she was living the life and her mother would never find out. After all, she didn’t think she was guilty of anything other than having a good time, but when the graduation letters came out, Corrine found out just how wrong she had been.

Corrine Denise Evans, what the hell were you thinking? Ms. Evans fussed. Lil girl, you got life all the way fucked up. How you make it to your senior year, only to fuck up? You not gone graduate, Corrine! Don’t you get that?" Ms. Evans clutched the letter of bad tidings to her chest and fought back tears.

Ma, you yelling at me like you been a model parent. Yea, you saw I had clothes, food, and shelter, but Mama, I needed more than that. I needed you! After you and Daddy split, all you ever thought about was you. No disrespect, Mama, but you wrong right now.

Corrine thought she was reaching out to her mother by letting her know they had both fucked up, but it was evident Ms. Evans wasn’t trying to hear any of what her daughter was saying.

First off, don’t blame you fuckin’ up on me, and damn sho’ not yo daddy. If he wanted to be with us, he would be right here with us. Talking ‘bout some damn daddy, she mumbled. When was the last time you even seen that man, Corrine, huh? Don’t worry, I’ll wait. Ms. Evans paused while her words reached their intended target; her daughter’s heart. Exactly! That ass speechless now, ain’t it? Check it out, Corrine. Yo ass too grown for school, be too grown for home. Get yo shit.

Mama! What am I supposed to do? Corrine whimpered.

Figure it out, wit ya grown ass! Had you gone to school like you were supposed to, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation, now would we? Ms. Evans rolled her eyes and stormed off.

But, Mama! Corrine yelled to her mother’s backside, but a response never came.

Wanting nothing more than to change her mother’s mind, and talk some sense into her, Corrine sulked to her bedroom, defeated, and lost. As she passed her mother’s door, tears poured from her eyes, but little did she know, Ms. Evans was on the opposite side in the same state of mind.

It pained Ms. Evans to take such drastic measures teaching Corrine lesson, and it killed her knowing she was feeding her only child to the belly of the beast. She was sending her baby girl to fight the battle that so many had lost in so many ways.

That day, Carol Ann Evans gave her baby to a world where you’re either the victim or the victor; you kill or be killed. Corrine was ill-prepared and forced into war, equipped with nothing more than a confused mind and desperate heart. The making for a statistic.

Stuffing as much as she could in two large garbage bags, Corrine wiped her tears then scooted them into the hallway.

Mama, she tried once again, as she stood in front of her mother’s bedroom door.

I’m sorry, baby. These things happen in the real world. You are being evicted, young lady.

You not gone ask where I’m goin, who I’ma be wit’, nothing, Mama? Corrine whispered.

No, baby, I’m not asking nothing. Did you consult with me when you decided you were going to skip school and not graduate? Ms. Evans asked.

No, ma’am, but I…

"Corrine, there is nothing left to