Sarah fought to break free, but his grip tightened around her throat. She gasped, clawing at his hands, but his strength was overwhelming. Her vision blurred, her lungs burned for air.

Then she saw it—a snake tattoo coiling around his wrist.

Terror gripped her. Her body trembled as her strength waned. She was losing consciousness. Her heartbeat slowed, her world darkened—

Her fingers brushed the edge of the table.

The knife. With the last of her strength, she seized it and drove the ...