Page 17 of Primal Urges

Not like being stupid and not knowing the basics of math and science ever hurt one’s self-esteem or anything.

“Caden!” his father’s voice shouted again. This time, there was more anger and impatience in his bark.

Cade adjusted his shorts, then pulled open his bedroom door and stepped out. He didn’t bother putting on a shirt. The house was a thousand degrees, and his father had no money for air-conditioning.

“What?” Caden huffed, entering the living room and glaring at his father.

His father was in his late fifties, having got his mom pregnant in his early forties. That was the thing about men; they could continue spreading their seed well into their later years.

His mom had been some waitress who boned his father one drunken night when they were all partying. Nine months later, she popped Caden out, then took off with some dude she met at a rest stop. His mother didn’t have high standards, considering she fucked his father—a man with zero manners and a raging drug problem.

Although, Caden had to give it to his father. Even though the man was a piece of shit, he still took care of Caden, raised him, and even managed to put a roof over their head. How he managed that? Caden would never know.

“Where the fuck were you?” his father asked, using a credit card to separate his coke in nice even lines.

For a man who was high three-quarters of the time, he didn’t seem to have a problem separating his next hit.

“I was in my room studying,” Caden answered, growing annoyed with his father’s constant pestering.

“Still? Why the fuck are you reading that shit? The only thing you need to know is where the G-spot is and where your next hit is coming from.” His father raised the tray with three even lines of coke and offered it to Caden.

Caden was fifteen. He’d tried weed and a bit of coke with some of his friends but still felt awkward getting high with his father.

Caden shook his head.

His father’s disapproving eyes said it all. He wasn’t tough enough when it came to being a man.

“You know, all that studyin’ and stayin’ sober and shit is gonna give the guys the wrong impression,” his father said, placing the tray down and rolling up a dollar bill. “People are gonna start thinking you’re some kind of homo and pansy and won’t respect you like they should.”

Caden had heard his father’s bullshit his whole life. He believed that men should be men. They should be tough, controlling, and never show emotions. Emotions were like feelings, and only women showed their feelings.

Living in Baton, it wasn’t exactly the nicest of places. They had one biker gang that called the shots and a town full of people who liked to drink and party.

“Studying is not going to make me a homo,” Caden responded, getting annoyed once again. “Did you need something? Or just like pissing me off?”

His father took a hit off the tray and leaned back on the sofa as he waited for the drugs to kick in.

“Get me another glass of whiskey,” he ordered, nodding toward his empty on the table.

Shaking his head, Caden grabbed the glass and was about to head to the kitchen when there was a knock at the door.

Changing his direction, he headed to the door and opened it without checking who it was. Considering the time, he figured it was probably one of his father’s tricks stopping by to make a quick twenty by sucking his father’s dick.

“Sheriff?” Cade asked, caught off guard by the two uniformed officers standing in the doorway. “Can I help you?”

Sheriff Burke looked past Cade and shook his head when he spotted his father.

“We’re here for your pops.” The sheriff nodded to his deputy, who entered the house when Caden stepped aside.

“Edgar Flanagan, you’re under arrest for assault and robbery,” the deputy said, stepping around the table and pulling his handcuffs off his belt. He glanced down at the tray of neatly separated drugs before shaking his head and helping his father to his feet.

“What? You got the wrong guy,” his father argued, barely fighting back against the deputy. “That man had a mouth on him, and he said I could have his wallet and watch.” His father glanced over at Caden before adding, “Make sure they don’t steal any of my stash.”

Like having his drugs confiscated was his father’s greatest problem.

“Dad.” Caden wasn’t sure what to do. Was he supposed to go to the jail with his father? Call a lawyer? It's not like they had any money for one, anyway.

“Cade, come with me, and I’ll drop you off at Mrs. Warden’s house for the night. She said you could stay with her until we get this whole mess with your father sorted.”

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