Cut from behind taking top card (King) (8)
I believe the answer is:
lacerate
'cut' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'behind taking top card king' is the wordplay.
'behind' becomes 'late' (as in behind schedule).
'taking' indicates putting letters inside.
'top card' becomes 'ace' (I've seen this before).
'king' becomes 'r' (r is abbreviation for rex).
'ace'+'r'='acer'
'late' going around 'acer' is 'LACERATE'.
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for lacerate that I've seen before include "Tear, rip (flesh or skin)" , "Tear or gash roughly" , "Harrow" , "Slash" , "Tear roughly, cut jaggedly" .)