From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 226

Chapter 226: The Empty Seat

The first morning bell had barely stopped ringing when the loud-speaker crackled to life. Every student in every classroom sat up a little straighter, half-expecting the usual reminders about field-trip forms or cafeteria menus.

Instead, the principal’s voice wavered across the corridor:

"Students and staff, I’m deeply sorry to inform you that our classmate Jay Woods has passed away."

A stunned hush rippled through the school. Only a few weeks earlier they’d heard a similar announcement about Sam, and now, Jay? It felt impossible, like some cruel pattern no one could break.

Whispers blew through the corridors: maybe the campus was cursed, maybe something darker was at work. Rumours swirled even faster than the brittle autumn leaves outside.

Everyone already knew the bare bones. The night before, there’d been a hit-and-run on Copper Street, and by breakfast the tragedy had a name: Jay. Teachers called it a tragic accident, an unfortunate fluke, and tried to shepherd everyone back to worksheets and whiteboards.

Only Max knew it hadn’t been an accident at all.

Jay’s death hit the students in a very different way compared to what happened with Sam.

Particularly for those in the Bloodline group.

Many of them had grown close to Jay. He wasn’t just someone they shared classes with, he had helped them whenever he could. He’d stepped in to stop them from getting into serious trouble more times than they could count.

In the middle of lessons, as Max sat there in silence, he overheard several conversations. Stories from others about Jay, about what he had done for them. About how he had their backs.

And everyone seemed to agree on the same thing: that there were plenty of people who probably should’ve gone before Jay. It wasn’t fair. It never was.

When the first fifteen-minute break arrived, Joe rushed over to where Max was sitting.

Without saying anything at first, Joe dragged a chair over and then instinctively pulled another one next to it. But before he could sit, he froze and paused for a moment.

"Crap... what the heck was I thinking," Joe muttered, suddenly pushing the second chair away.

Usually, during break, Jay would come over to them. It had become such a habit for Joe to always get him a seat.

"Don’t put it back," Max said, glancing at him. "Just leave the seat there. Empty for now."

It was a strange request, but Joe did it anyway. He nodded, sat down in the seat beside the empty one, and tried not to look at it.

"Hey, I’ve had a few people message me since last night," Joe began, rubbing his hands together. "They’ve been asking questions. I told them if they need anything, to come to me, like they used to go to Jay."

He looked frustrated as he continued.

"I’m trying my best to cover things. I didn’t realize how much he did, man. There’s always some small argument happening. Some little drama. And he was the one who took care of it all."

Joe leaned in, voice lowering. "Anyway, I can handle that. But the thing that’s been bothering me is, they keep asking what really happened to Jay. I told them it was just a hit-and-run... but what do you want me to say?"

"For now, keep it that way," Max replied without emotion. "That’s how it is for them. No point making everyone stress over an imaginary enemy."

"But didn’t Aron say it was those Chalkline Boys?" Joe asked, a sharpness in his voice.

"I did," Max answered. "And it’s still not an enemy they need to worry about."

Joe clenched both of his fists and placed them firmly on the table.

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