Chapter 39
For a second, Poppy didn’t understand what she was seeing.
She glanced at her phone, still trying to connect to Tom.
It couldn’t be a coincidence. Still, part of her refused to believe what was happening.
Her hand shook as she tapped the screen, ending the call. Abruptly, Martin’s phone stopped ringing too.
The burn of bile rose in her throat. The silence thick with tension.
‘Why do you have Tom’s phone?’ The question came out sharply.
He didn’t answer immediately, glancing down at his screen, but then he looked directly at her, his expression unreadable.
Why was he acting so calm?
‘Where is he?’ she pushed, her voice rising as panic set in. ‘What have you done to him?’
The hint of a smile touched his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
‘You don’t need to worry about him any more.’
Poppy’s chest tightened and she struggled to get her breath.
‘Don’t,’ she managed, edging back. ‘Don’t say that. Just please tell me, where is Tom?’
Instead of answering, he closed the gap between them again. His movements were deliberate. Unhurried. As if he had all the time in the world.
Poppy shook her head. None of this made any sense.
‘This isn’t possible. Tom only messaged me twenty minutes ago. He shouldn’t even be here yet.’ Her eyes locked on to Martin’s. ‘So how do you have his phone?’
He said nothing at first, just waited as if wanting her to catch up, but then he finally spoke.
‘I told you I’d be here tonight.’
His voice was quiet, his tone measured, and that was the moment when everything changed.
Not because of what he had said. But how he had said it.
Blood rushed in Poppy’s ears, and everything seemed to tilt.
Why did he sound so familiar?
A cold weight settled in her gut.
No. No. It wasn’t possible.
She looked at him properly now, her fingers tightening around her phone, her heart hammering harder now as her thoughts scrambled to keep up.
‘What?’ Her voice faltered. ‘What did you just say?’
He continued to watch her, and though he remained passive, she couldn’t help but suspect he was enjoying this.
‘You heard me.’
Poppy’s chest tightened. He didn’t sound like Martin now. His accent had gone, and his voice… it was slightly posher.
Recognisable.
‘No,’ she said quickly, shaking her head again, as if she could physically push the thought away. ‘No, don’t…’ She trailed off.
Because she had heard it. She just didn’t want to believe it.
‘You’re always overthinking things, Pops.’
Something inside her snapped, her breath hitching at the memory of late-night calls. The way Tom spoke her name. The quiet, steady reassurance of his voice.
No.
No, no, no.
It couldn’t be.
‘Stop it!’ she demanded, louder now. ‘Stop talking like that. Stop talking like him.’
Martin’s expression didn’t change. If anything, he seemed relieved.
‘There’s no point in pretending any more,’ he said quietly.
The words settled between them and Poppy’s stomach roiled so violently she thought she was going to be sick.
‘No,’ she repeated, but this time without conviction. ‘No, you’re not…’ She couldn’t even finish the sentence, because she didn’t know what he was any more.
Martin tilted his head slightly, studying her. ‘I am. It’s me, Pops.’
The affectionate nickname hit harder this time. It was Tom’s voice, but not his face.
Everything inside her dropped as the truth finally forced its way through.
Tom wasn’t at the airport. He wasn’t on his way to the villa. He was already here. Standing right in front of her.
For a second, she couldn’t move as it sank in. Then everything hit at once.
She had been catfished.
The man she spoke to most days, who she thought she was developing feelings for, didn’t even exist.
It had been Martin all along. And he had lured her here.
She stared at him in horror, realising he had never been in England.
There had been no house swap.
She had trusted him. They had been friends for so long, and the betrayal cut through her. But beneath it, fear surfaced.
What did he want from her?
A noise came from further within the villa.
Keira.
Poppy’s head snapped towards the hallway, panic surging as she remembered her friend was in the shower. She had no idea Martin was here.
Instinct kicked in hard now, and she took another step back, aware that she needed distance. From him. From whatever he was now.
She saw the moment his expression changed. Harsher now. More alert. Controlled.
He’d heard Keira too.
‘I know she’s here,’ he said quietly.
Poppy froze, her blood running cold as he smiled.
‘Your friend. She’s here.’
How did he know? Had he seen them arrive back at the villa? Or had he already been inside, lying in wait?
She wanted to ask him, but she could see his focus was now on the hallway.
‘Call her,’ he said. His voice was quiet, but commanding.
Poppy’s chest tightened. ‘No!’
‘Call her,’ he repeated, his tone firmer now. ‘Tell her to come through.’
‘Please. She doesn’t need to be involved in this.’
Martin’s expression darkened, and for the first time she saw a glimpse of what lay beneath the calm. She trembled violently.
‘She’s already involved.’
Another sound came from the bedroom. And this time there was movement with it; a door opening. Poppy’s heart slammed as Keira’s voice echoed down the hallway.
‘Did you pour me that wine?’
Her friend had no idea of the danger waiting.
Panic surged and Poppy turned without thinking.
She needed to warn Keira before it was too late.