Page 115 of The House Swap

He didn’t react. Didn’t move. Didn’t even blink. Then, without warning, he took a slow step towards her.

Poppy’s breath caught and she quickly backed away from him, her grip tightening around her phone.

‘Don’t,’ she warned, her tone sharper now. ‘Don’t come any closer.’

Still, he ignored her, and as the space between them closed, she realised she was trapped between him and the rest of the house.

Keira.

The thought of her friend hit hard. She wouldn’t let him go any further.

Tom’s message was still on the WhatsApp screen. She needed to get help. Now.

Barely taking her eyes off Martin, she moved her thumb up to discreetly press call. Hopefully Tom would hear enough of the conversation to realise she was in trouble.

Silently, she willed Martin to stay where he was as she took another step back.

As she did, a ringtone sounded inside the villa.

Martin’s attention shifted. He reached into his pocket, and Poppy’s stomach dropped, watching as he pulled out his phone.

The ringing.

It was coming from him.

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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?’