“I smirked. “Careful, Aussie, that almost sounded like a compliment.”

I reached to take the knife, but Matthias caught my wrist, reeled back his arm, and stabbed the blade into my hand. I screamed. The Aussie laughed. Okay, it was only a prick. On my finger. But his serial-killer plunge and deranged look of delight got my heart pumping.”