Instead, I simply pointed to his vibrating phone and said tonelessly, "Victoria needs you."
The fight drained from his expression at the sound of her name. Without another glance in my direction, he strode into the hallway to answer her call.
The moment the door closed behind him, my phone rang again. I answered immediately, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Lauren? Thank God you finally picked up! I've been worried sick," came the urgent voice on the other end. "Our plan was for you to meet me at the safe house two days ago. What happened?"
"I'll call you back," I whispered urgently into the phone. "I just need a little more time. Three days at most."
As the hospital room door closed behind Alexander, I quickly slipped the phone under my pillow, my heart hammering against my weakened ribs.
"Who was that?" he demanded again, his voice calm as he approached my bed.
"My pharmacist," I lied smoothly. "About my heart medication."
He studied my face for a long moment before glancing at his watch.
"Victoria's having false contractions," he said dismissively. "She's asking for special ice cream from that place downtown."
Even in a medical emergency, her cravings took precedence over my recovery.