“And?” I could barely squeeze the word out.
Anger and anxiety were having a field day inside of me. One of Mac’s rules was never to accept a favor without hearing all the details. It was common sense, but he’d also mentioned something as simple as holding the door for someone who was economically below you could turn into something more.
“And nothing…Oh, you’re wondering why I’m so forthright?”
“Yeah.”
“Two reasons. One, I’m the student council president. It’s one of my duties to get everyone up to speed, and two, I don’t know; thought we could be friends.”
“You keep saying you’re the president but isn’t there a vote or something?”
“Yes, there is a vote, but the outcome has already been determined regardless of if I run or not.”
I decided it wasn’t worth getting into. If Mac’s position was secure, then having him as an ally would only work in my favor.Hopefully.
“Just friends?”
Mac laughed. “Yeah. I’m currently… occupied.”
If that wasn’t code for complicated, I didn’t know what was. My shoulders eased down. “Good. I mean, I can see about the friend thing. Start at acquaintances?”
“That’s fair,” Mac said.
“Oh, right. What does it mean, I’m claimed?”
Mac was silent for a second. “Honestly, no idea. As I said, they’ve never done this before. If any girl has been in their bed, it’s never any of the kings who tell people. It’s the girls. It earns you some leeway and leverage even over those who are economically above you.”
I groaned, an ache forming right behind my left eye. I pressed my thumb against it until spots danced in my vision.
“Okay, and if I don’t want any of that?”
Mac was silent, but it was all the answer I needed. “I just need to get them to unclaim me, right?”
“Technically, yeah.”
“Great, I’ll add it to my long as fuck to-do list.” I didn’t ask Mac for help, and he didn’t offer. He might have said he wanted to be friends, but I could tell he was treating me with caution.
“One last thing before I get dressed for my first day in prison. What exactly is my economic status?”
“One second,” Mac said.
I took the time to look over my outfit and knew comfortable wouldn’t be what I needed. I hung it back up and instead grabbed the black fitted jeans along with an orange off-the-shoulder halter sweater. The accessories were kept to a minimum just in case something happened. A belt with a gold buckle that matched my necklace and a few rings.
Richard was a creep for shopping for me, but he had some taste in clothes. Even admitting that in my head sent chills of disgust down my spine.
“You’re in the middle, which is good. You have no family ties, or should I say your stepdad doesn’t have any family ties. He’s been governor all of two years, and his standing with some of the old money around here is fifty-fifty. Some hate him, and some tolerate him.”
“Good to know. Just for shits and giggles, the kings?” I air-quoted the kings because who in the hell really went by that?
“You didn’t read what I sent?”
Shit, busted. “I skimmed, same thing. Just tell me, Mac.”
“Luxious Rodell is from the Rodell family. They are one of the founding families of Aridole, and his family has a hand in every business legal and—” Mac left that last part to the imagination, but it wasn’t hard to figure out.
“Okay.”
“Rem Evans is technically expendable but not. She’s the daughter of the vice president of the Hell Chaser’s motorcycle club. She’s dangerous; her power stems from violence and favors not so much money.”