Free Lethal Instincts by Kasia Radzka

she took her time and tried to open a few containers. She edged her way, trying to stay out of sight, she tried opening the doors but they were locked. She shouldn’t have expected anything else.
    Was that growling she just heard? She stood still, quiet.  
    A bark. The guy did say there were several dogs. Lexi assumed they hung out at night and slept during the day.  
    Fuck. There was a dog. Maybe fifty metres away, he was growling. She saw the teeth, the saliva drooling down its jaw. It was a mutt she didn’t recognise and did not want to come in contact with.  
    Lexi inched backwards, keeping her gaze fixed on the dog. Lose eye contact and he was going to start the chase.  
    She guessed there was maybe two hundred metres to the exit. Far too long to outrun the dog. It’d be on her within seconds. His four paws versus her two feet. She didn’t stand a chance, even if she had been blessed with Bolt’s speed.
    Lexi continued to inch backwards, the dog continued to growl. Would this be her demise? Then she remembered the sandwich in her bag. Would this nice little doggy like the sandwich? Would it buy her enough time to get the hell out of there?  
    As she reached into her bag, the dog must have sensed something he didn’t like as he inched forward. What was she to do with the sandwich? Hold it out for him to eat or leave it on the ground and run? But running, she imagined the dog jumping on her back, digging his claws into her skin and pushing her to the ground.  
    Lexi wasn’t afraid of dogs. But she didn’t go out of her way to befriend vicious-looking growling ones either.  
    She took half the sandwich out of the wrapper and threw it towards the dog. Her throw wasn’t a champion shot, the sandwich landed maybe twenty metres ahead. The dog went for it and she slowly continued easing her way back. But the sandwich was gone in seconds and the dog was growling again. No doubt it could easily have her for breakfast.  
    Lexi still had the other half of the sandwich in her hand. She saw the gate ahead. Could she make it? Was she willing to risk it? How long was she supposed to have this dance with this dog that did not look like he was going to stand down?
    She threw the other half of the sandwich towards it and made quicker steps backwards. Her instincts told her to run but her logic won over and she didn’t turn around. Then, with one step, she felt her back walking into something or someone.  
    She finally turned to see a man, six feet tall, staring down at her.
    “No trespassing,” he said, pointing to the sign.
    He looked fierce, his face didn’t break out in a smile. Grease covered his tanned cheeks and arm, he wore overalls with oil on the front and he was wearing an orange hard hat.  
    “Can you call off the dog?” Lexi asked, not certain whether she was more afraid of the man or the dog.  
    “He has you pinned for a trouble maker. I’d have to agree with him,” the man said.  
    Lexi held her hands up to her chest. “I’m not looking for trouble. I just got lost on the way out.”  
    The man whistled, the dog bolted towards them. Lexi’s stomach turned, she almost closed her eyes and waited for the moment when the dog ripped into her flesh, but it never came. The dog obediently sat down next to the burly man and continued growling at Lexi.
    “This is no place for a young woman. Unless she’s looking for trouble,” he said, the tone of his voice changing to a suggestive one.  
    “I just got lost on my way out after a chat with the port manager. Call him if you must,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t. She had been snooping and it had been over half an hour since she had spoken to him.
    “I am the manager,” he said, glaring at her.
    “Well then who was the guy I was speaking with?”
    “Just get out of here,” he said, bending down to hold on to the dog’s collar.
    Lexi didn’t need to be told twice. She stopped herself from running but walked very fast towards the exit and the