Charlie's Whiskey

by Harlow Brown

  Thinking I was kidding, he said, "Oh yeah, short stuff?"

  "Goddamned right. My name is Charlie. I'll be called nothing else by someone I don't know. Ask Whiskey."

  "Ask me what?"

  My finger still sunk in Magnum’s chest, I turned to face Whiskey.

  "Fuck." He ran over to me and effortlessly removed me from Magnum’s space.

  I was still fired up. "Go ahead, ask him what happens when you keep calling me something I don't want to be called. I'm taking a breather before I explode. Are there any smokes here?"

  Whiskey looked at Magnum, who scoffed. "No, but I'll gladly get you some. You need some Midol too?"

  "Fuck you."

  Whiskey clapped his hand on Mag's shoulder. "Mag, just go get a pack of Marlboro Lights and shut the fuck up. We’ll talk later."

  "I'm not going to let a chick—"

  Whiskey stopped him before he really made things bad. "Dude, I won't stop her next time. Take it from me. Your best bet is to leave for a bit and let me handle her. Just get the smokes and I'll talk to her."

  "Fuck it. I'm out." He stomped off through the house. I soon heard the rumble of his pipes as he hauled ass away.

  "Babes, are you okay? What happened."

  "I. Hate. Char," I said through clenched teeth as I turned to see the sun setting on the ocean.

  "Damn it. Come here, Charlie. He had no idea. Babes, he didn't know." He held out his arms and walked towards me. "Look at me."

  I continued to stare at the scenery beyond the horizon, taking in the oranges, pinks, and purples.

  "Charlie, look at me. Please."

  I whipped around and stared at him. "What, Whiskey? I get it. He didn't know. But hearing that name takes me back to a hell I'm not over yet. I tried to tell you I was just going to end up flipping the fuck out…. Why are you staring—"

  "I'm staring at your eyes. They’re gray again."

  "Yeah, I'm pissed. So what?"

  "So they’re beautiful. I hate seeing you upset, but I want every chance I can get to see them. Please, Charlie. Come here. Drink another beer and settle down. We can talk it out."

  I turned back to the view and heard him approaching me. "Please let me cool down. Alone. I need a minute."

  "Sure, but, babes, remember we’re on club property. You can't be acting like that to anyone, not without at least explaining why."

  I heard footsteps walking away from me. “Great first impression, Charlie. Way to break him in right. Mouthy, fearless, batshit-crazy Charlie was really what you wanted him to see first?” I mumbled to myself, then took a big pull of my beer. I finished it as tears of shame trailed from my eyes. I reached back as far as possible and let the bottle fly as I screamed, “I fucking hate you!" My screams turned into quieter sobs. "Goddamn it, I hate you" came out in a whisper.

  I'm not sure how or when, but I remember throwing my bottle and then somehow being in Whiskey's arms. He was stroking my hair and telling me that it was going to be okay.

  I didn't hear Magnum's bike pull back up, but he came stomping across the deck and stopped when he reached us. "Here."

  When we turned around, he saw the reddened face I tried so desperately to hide, as well as the tear stains on my cheeks.

  "Fucking chicks. I don't handle tears well. What am I supposed to do now?"

  I let out a chuckle and said, "How about you get me a lighter and another beer. When you come back I'll tell you a story."

  He looked at Whiskey, and I could tell he didn't know if I was being sarcastic or real.

  Whiskey only shook his head and said, "She means it."

  Magnum went to the kitchen to fetch a lighter and came back to hand it to me. I graciously took it from him and lit up a cigarette from the pack, trying to calm my nerves before I came clean.

  I GOT THE steaks on and threw on a couple potatoes as well, then headed right back out to Charlie and Magnum. She was taking a big drag of her cigarette. How did she make smoking look sexy?

  "So are you going to tell me why you spazzed out on me?"

  She nodded at him and guzzled down her new beer. "My ex called me Char."

  "Okay. I don't get it."

  "I wasn't done." She stood up and took off her shirt, then turned to face Magnum. "This is why I won't be called Char. Hearing that name brings me right back to those hellacious three years. 'Char, do this. Char, you should have listened. You'll love it the next time, Char.' The cocksucker tied me up, raped me, and beat me."

  She turned back around and looked out to the ocean again. "Magnum, I'm sorry. You didn't know." Then she stared at him with fire in her eyes. "But you do now."

  Mag stared at her chest and slowly followed it to her torso. Anger blanketed his face like a sheet. "Charlie, I didn't fucking know. That motherfucker will pay. Do you hear me? I'll make sure of it."

  I handed Charlie her shirt and held her for a minute. "I appreciate it, Magnum, really, but I don't want anyone except me to off the rat bastard."

  She wiggled her way out of my arms and looked at me, then back to him.

  "What, Charlie? I see those wheels turning. What are you thinking?"

  "Could we work out an arrangement? You know, an ‘I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine’ kind of thing?"

  Magnum and I looked at each other, both clearly confused. "Babes, what are you talking about?"

  "Hear me out before you go fucking postal on me, yeah?"

  I nodded, anxious to hear her proposition.

  "How dangerous or risky are your runs?"

  "No. Not no, but hell no. I'm not having this conversation, and you aren't even thinking about it."

  I'm fairly sure there was smoke coming out of my ears until she walked over to me, wrapped her arms around me, and kissed me like she couldn't get enough. She opened her eyes and said, just as calm, cool, and collected as ever, "You can hear me out or bail me out. Your call, biker boy."

  Magnum's mouth hit the floor, followed shortly by him stammering, "Uh, dude? I think you better at least hear her out. She doesn't look like she’s playing around."

  She looked me in the eye. "Well, Whiskey, what’s it going to be?"

  "Shit. Go ahead, I guess. Fuck, I can't stop you apparently." I had to be under some kind of spell. No chick ever talked to me like that and got away with it, especially in front of a brother. They usually hit the curb after a remark like that. Everyone until Charlie, at least.

  "Obviously, I don't look like a biker. I don't have a bike, not even a tattoo. So why couldn't we ensure the safe delivery of the moonshine by way of me delivering it in my car? I have two to choose from."

  "I don't want you involved. Some of the people we deal with aren't friendly."

  Magnum cleared his throat. "Dude, hear her out. It's crazy enough that it might just work."

  Charlie rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I'd be the perfect decoy. And if you thought it necessary, I would make modifications to the cars. I knew you wouldn’t want me to do it, and I’ve already thought that through too. Put a member behind me and one in front of me."

  "What do you want in return?" Magnum asked.

  "I want an alibi and a cover-up. I want Hensley dead. I want to personally make him suffer and beg me to put him out of his misery. Then when I'm done torturing him, I want to be the one who takes the life from his worthless body. I need help. Y'all in?"

  "Babes, slow down. Do you realize what you’re saying? I want him dead too, but this isn't something you take lightly. You're talking premeditated, revengeful, cold-blooded murder. No matter how good we are, or how good our contacts are, there’s a risk of getting caught."

  "I understand, and I'm willing to pay the price to clean it up. I’ll help you guys if you give me a hand. If the plan goes south, I’m pretty sure I could win in court. I have pictures, letters, and scars that will serve as evidence of an abusive relationship. I have the financial means to get the best attorney money can buy. I'm serious as a motherfucking heart attack. Three years of being a punching bag sex s
lave have taken their toll on me. I will get him back, and I'll do it with or without you. I'd just prefer it if you were standing beside me, hand in hand, lips locked, as I steal his last breath from him."

  She had a serene look to her, and that told me all I needed to know. Charlie girl was tired of worrying about him finding her and having to relive that hell. She needed this, needed the finality of the situation. I would see to it that she got that peace she longed for.

  I stood in total awe of her. She was strong enough to ask me and my boys for help, trusted me enough to involve my club, and was more than willing to stick her neck out for us. I didn't like the idea of using her on runs, but she did have a point. She looked like an angel—my angel. There’d be no way in hell she’d get stopped for bootlegging or transporting illegal booze across state lines. Magnum or I would ride with her. Well, one in front and one behind her. Wouldn't do much good to have a cover person riding around with a less than pure-looking man, would it?

  "Dude, does she have a sister?" Magnum’s eyes were wide, and Charlie's head spun around to meet his face.

  "No. Why?" she asked before I could answer for her.

  "For real, Mag. What a fine time to ask about family dynamics."

  "Fuck, Whiskey, she's fine as frog's hair split four ways, athletic, likes real beer and not that pussy shit, apparently she isn't scared of much, and I'd bet your left nut she's relentless in all things she does." His eyes were still wide with awe.

  "I have no blood siblings, but I do have ten sisters who would be here before quick could get ready if I needed them," said Charlie matter-of-factly.

  "Your softball team? Really?"

  "Look, ass wipe, those girls could probably beat your ass. They are to me as your brothers are to you."

  "If they’re anything like you, I'd let them all beat me."

  "You'll get a chance to meet them because they’re coming here and you’re coming to watch us play in the World Series," she deadpanned, as if it had been the plan all along.

  "I'm down. Eleven girls in tight pants, all sweaty and shit? Fuck yes."

  "You still amaze me with your man-slut ways.” I laughed, then grew deadly serious. “And you need to get something straight. You'll only look at ten of those eleven girls with bedroom eyes. When you look at Charlie, it’s with eyes of my brother, yeah?"

  "I got you. I can't wait to see the rest of her friends, though."

  "NOW, CHARLIE, WHAT did you have in mind for your dickweed ex?" Magnum asked.

  "Well, ideally, I'd like for him to be picked up and brought to me. I'd have a place picked out, a completely mirrored room so he could see me from anywhere. Then I'd put on the one outfit he loved me in the most, as bad as it disgusted me, and prance around in front of him. He’d be tied to a chair so he couldn’t get me. Even if he could, you guys are gonna be there, so I'm not worried. Then I'd have Whiskey come out, and he and I would put on one hell of an exhibitionist sex show for him. Then I'd get down beside him and whisper some of the sick shit he used to make me say to him real close to his ear, so close he could feel my breath. Then I'd straddle him and get him all worked up till he’s about to cream his britches. The next part is my favorite."

  "Shit-fuck-damn, Whiskey, don't piss this one off."

  "Charlie, do you think I'm going to let you touch that sick fucker again?"

  "Oh, Whiskey, do you really believe that it’s up to you? He’ll be tied up with you in the room. This is my fantasy. I'll torture him how I see fit."

  Magnum’s mouth almost hit the floor again. I loved that I could shock him. "I haven't got all the details figured out yet, but I'd somehow end up with a bat in said mirrored room. I want that sick bastard wondering how and when that's coming into play the entire time I'm giving him blue balls. When he’s just about to come, I’ll start beating the fuck out of him with the Louisville Slugger. First his ankles, then his shins, and then I take out the fucker’s knees. I'd toss the bat to the side and straddle him again, only that time sex-kitten Charlie isn't invited to play.

  “Revengeful Charlie is going to get hers. As he cries out in pain from the bones I’ve just smashed, I’ll whisper in his ear, ‘It sucks to be helpless and not in control of what happens to your own body, yeah? Oh, but, Hens, you'll learn to love it. Hens, you should have listened all those years ago. Hens, you finally got what you deserve. If you would’ve taken the time to know me, the real me, you'd have known this day was coming eventually, that I would always end up on top. You should’ve known that I would never let you defeat me forever.' Then I'd untie him, leave him a bologna sandwich and a bottle of water, and walk away for a week. Then I'd come back and repeat the torture on his legs, but I'd include wrists, elbows, and shoulders. I'd be charitable and change his diet—you know, because I'm sweet like that. I'd leave him Spam, the spreadable kind, and crackers with Diet Coke to drink."

  "Babes, how long have you thought about this?"

  "How long? Since the second time he stuck his dick in me without me wanting it. So at least two years."

  "Second time?"

  "Yes, I forgave him the first time. I chalked it up to a bad mood."

  "There is no rea—"

  "Like I don't know that? Really?"

  "It pisses me off for you.” Whiskey paused a second. “Why Diet Coke?"

  "He hates it and won't drink it. But the Spam is so salty he won’t have a choice."

  Blank stares from both of them. Great. They think I'm a fucking loon.

  "Back to my story. So, at that point, I’ll bet he’s whining like a bitch, and I'm also sure I'll have had my fill. So a few days pass and someone’s been in to strip him naked, tie his wrists to his ankles, and blindfold him, so all he can do is hear. I'll be bringing a broom, some lube, and my Louisville Slugger. I’ll be so kind and caring, telling him that it's almost over. Then I'll walk behind him, stand quietly for a minute or two, squirt some lube on the broom handle, and then gently touch his asshole with it. I'll be easy at first. All the while, I’ll be telling him the same words he said to me. 'You'll like it, I swear. You'll get used to the pain and eventually you’ll love it.' Then I'll just stop. And when he starts to ask me questions I'll ram that broom handle so far up his ass that he farts dust bunnies. Then I’ll yank it out with no warning.

  “After enough time has gone by, I’ll grab the bat and hit my palm with it several times. I’ll call in whoever’s there to help me plant his sore throbbing ass in that chair once more. I’ll straddle him again and say as sweetly as I can, ‘I loved you with everything I had. I gave you parts of me that I didn't even want to give. Mostly my heart. You stomped it into the ground and made me look like a fool. Every time you said you would change, you would rape me, beat me, or some other fucked-up shit, and I let you. Now revenge is mine. Turnabout is fair play, right?’ Then I’ll act like I’m going to give him a handjob and when he got all riled up and hard as a rock, I'd hit him over the head with the bat. Hard. One blow. Pain is over, for the both of us."

  Magnum looked away from me, seeking Whiskey’s facial expression. I'm not sure what he saw, but all at once I felt hands on my shoulders from behind. I spun around and swung in full force, Whiskey's big hand catching my considerably smaller one.

  "Charlie, I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted you to know you have our support. Whatever you need, we’ll make sure it happens. Once Briar knows, I'm sure he’ll be in on helping too."

  Magnum chimed in. "Charlie girl, the club won't care one bit to help you, I'm sure. But Whiskey and I have to tell them everything. Didn't you say that Briar and his girl were picking up your car somewhere in Tennessee? You might have them go ahead and come on down here so they can be at the meeting."

  I made eye contact with both of them, gaining their attention once more. "That made me sound batshit crazy. I swear I'm not. I'm just done. He needs to get what he gave. Daddy always said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but baby girl, if it ever comes to that, you better give them something
extra while you have them down.' He's just getting a whole lot extra. I can't believe I let it go this long."

  Stark quiet. Good. I needed a little time to gather my thoughts. A few minutes passed, and then I finally broke the silence. "I'm going to go call Briar. All I have to do is say 'I need' and he’ll be here. I'll catch you guys later. I'm going up to find my room."

  "Charlie!" Whiskey's voice stopped me dead in my tracks. "We’ll help you, at any cost. And you'll never be alone in any situation again. Not as long as I'm around. I've got you. And my brothers have you too. Don't be afraid to come to any of them for anything, yeah?"

  I walked back to him, put my hand on his face, and gazed into his bourbon eyes. "Where have you been all my life?" Then I kissed him with every ounce of my being.

  There was no point in denying it, and no sense in fighting it anymore. I had fallen hopelessly in love with Whiskey.

  "DUDE, WHAT WAS that about?" Magnum asked.

  "Uh, I'm not sure. I hope it means what I want it to mean, but I doubt it."

  "Holy shit, Batman, you're in love. Hell has frozen over, and there are snowballs being tossed around by the sinners stuck there." He walked to the edge of the deck and searched the sky for something.

  "What the hell are you looking for, Magnum?"

  "Flying pigs." He grinned.

  "Fuck you. You just wait. You'll meet the one for you, and she will knock you off your feet. I hope you bounce, asshat."

  How is this my life? How am I here with one of my best friends, and the girl of my dreams is upstairs? And since when did I need a girl?

  Fuck if I knew, but I wasn’t letting her go. I needed to make sure she was able to convince Briar and Jazz to come on down. But all I wanted to do was bask in the moment. I wanted to sear this feeling, the memory of her putting her hand on my face, and the color of her eyes when she asked me where I had been all her life into my brain.