Ella POV
Sunlight flooded into the trunk, momentarily blinding me. I blinked rapidly, forcing my eyes to adjust as quickly as possible. I needed to see what was happening.
Standing over me, silhouetted by the harsh light, was Alexander.
Relief crashed over me so intensely it nearly stole my breath. For a moment, all I could feel was overwhelming gratitude that he was here. That he had come for me.
But the expression on his face stole some of that joy.
Concern flickered in his sharp gaze as he looked me over, but it quickly darkened into something else—something closer to fury.
Without a word, Alexander bent down, his movements controlled but swift, and carefully helped me sit up. With a few deft tugs, he pulled the bloody shoelace from around my wrists, freeing my hand
