Chapter Seventeen
CAN’T CATCH brEAK
LYRIC
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
for the
__________ District of __________
) California 5th
Plaintiff Black Rock Entertainment and Tours
)
v. Civil Action No.
) 7779311121104
)
Defendant
) Lyric AL Rasheed Professionally known as Lyric, Empress and all know aliases
SUBPOENA TO APPEAR AND TESTIFY
AT A HEARING OR TRIAL IN A CIVIL ACTION
To: Lyric AL RASHEED
YOU ARE COMMANDED to appear in the United States district court at the time, date, and place set forth below
to testify at a hearing or trial in this civil action. When you arrive, you must remain at the court until the judge or a court
officer allows you to leave.
Place: Courtroom No.: 354
Date and Time: June 6, 2025
You must also bring with you the following documents, electronically stored information, or objects (leave blank if
not applicable) :TRAVEL ITINERARY, CONTRACT, MARRIAGE LICENSE, BUSINESS CALENDAR
The following provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 45 are attached – Rule 45(c), relating to the place of compliance; Rule 45(d), relating to your protection as a person subject to a subpoena; and Rule 45(e) and (g), relating to your duty to respond to this subpoena and the potential consequences of not doing so.
Date:March 20, 2025
CLERK OF COURT, Erika Gonzalez
The name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the attorney representing Black Rock Entertainment and Tours , who issues or requests this subpoena, are: Preston Crochan, III, Esq.
Notice to the person who issues or requests this subpoena
If this subpoena commands the production of documents, electronically stored information, or tangible things before trial, a notice and a copy of the subpoena must be served on each party in this case before it is served on the person to
whom it is directed. Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(a)(4).
“What the hell?” I look at the subpoena I’ve just pulled from the packet handed to me from one of the place attendants.
I need my phone so I can all Terrence. I’ve used Black Rock for my tours, so I know he’s felt this was his last resort.
My phone was confiscated as soon as I deplaned, so I couldn’t contact him.
“Fuck,” I swear, even more viciously this time.
“It must be terrible if for you to say that five times in a row, friend.”
Jumping to my feet, hearing the scratchy words from Fi, I drop the packet on the floor ignoring the way they scatter. She’s awake and that’s all that matters.
“Fi,” I’m already crying. “Doctor —s-sorry,” I drop my voice down to a less jarring tone when she winces.
“Hey, hunnie,” I sit beside her on the bed.
“Hey, you.” A smile spreads across her beautiful face. “If you sing, This Little Light Of Mine ever again, I’m strangling you.” Her attempted smile breaks as a torrent of coughs shake her slim frame.
After quickly pouring water from the bedside carafe, I press the straw against her lips.
“Slowly,” I admonish, not wanting her to bring it back up in the next few seconds.
“What happened?” she asks after a few sips.
“Madam?” Looking up, I see the doctor at the foot of the bed as the rest of her all female team is filing in.
“I’ll catch you up after Dr. Bint Aaziz checks you out.” Feeling her squeeze my hand in return is encouraging. I move back to give the team that’s been on standby the access they need to Fi.
“How is she?” I turn to the sound to my right as I exit the room. Fariq stands in a military at ease position. Any misgivings I had about his feeling for my friend have quickly been put to rest since the accident. He’s been by her side alongside me every day. Moussa has taken over their shared duty as Hassan’s body man.
“She just woke up and can barely speak. The doctor came in right after she asked what happened.” I inform him going over to the refreshment table the staff put out for us like they have every day as we’ve kept vigil.
“Ahh,” he nods, a troubled expression spilling over his face. I can see the hesitation and hope emerge.
“Do you think she’ll want to see me?” I’m already nodding. I’d made sure she looked good when I came in this morning. We made a promise to each other back when we were thirteen that if either of us ever went into a coma, the other would make sure we always had our hair and faces done. I was always okay with a natural look but Fi maintained she wanted the full treatment. So in keeping with that promise I came in here and did her makeup after her morning skin care and made sure every night I did her five step routine. My bestie is vain as hell.
“I think she’ll love that.” I assure him pouring us both a coffee. It’s sweeter than I remembered, but I could be the new beans. The distinctive taste I’m used to seems a little off, but having my coffee perfect is the least of my priorities right now.
He nods somberly before looking around in a little awkward manner. As much as we have passed each other on our way to and from Fi’s room, this is the most we’ve ever spoken to each other.
Handing him a coffee, I offer, “Perhaps you will be able to go back to your detail once you’ve gotten the all clear.”
He quirks a brow at this, shaking his head. “I don’t think so. I’ve been compromised.”
“Excuse me?” My tone elevates in disbelief at Hassan being biased against his relationship with my friend.
“Oh, nothing like that.” Waving away my assumption, he cracks a rare smile. “Palace intrigues and the subsequent fall out is not good for our Fi.”
Immediately, I knew he was referring to Fi’s escape attempt.
“She told you?” My shock is real. Fi keeps secrets better than anyone save me.
“There is little in my household that I don’t know, Mistress.” He cooly informs me.
“Well, I hope they put you on the case to find out who attacked us.” Taking another sip of the coffee, I let the unexpected sweetness flow over my tongue. The staff knows how I take my coffee — full fat with cream and no sugar. Having enough of the brew, I put it back down just as the doctor emerges from the suite with the staff.
“Mistress?” Dr. Aaziz references me, but her gaze touches on Fariq’s stoic form as well. As the other woman draws near, she crosses her arms over in her chest in a manner she’s does often when giving us an update.
“She remembers nothing of the incident, but that is a trauma response we often see. Over the next few weeks and months, she may regain her memory or she may never recall them. It is paramount she is not pressed to remember anything. If her memories ever return, they should be organic. Her strength after this ordeal is as fragile as a child. She says she was never one to exercise fearing that she would get even skinner if she did, also doesn’t she want to bulk up.” Rolling her eyes in much the same way I did when Fi told me her reasoning in the past. “A smattering of yoga she informed me is all she does.” The doubt in her gaze is almost laughable.
I smirk in response as Fariq huffs.
“Regardless, she will need to establish a routine to fully regain her health.”
“I’ll take care of that matter. As a member of my household, that responsibility falls to me.” Schooling my expression at Fariq’s declaration, I simply nod. I don’t insist because though Hassan left the other day with us on good terms before he headed out to an international conference, I don’t want to chance what his reaction will be if he ever discover that it was Fi and note working with Prosper.
Dr. Bint Aaziz drones on more about diet and exercise, promising to send written instructions to Fariq’s household.
She turns back to me when Fariq excuses himself to go check on Fi, his expression fraught with worry. “As for the other girl.”
“Indigo,” I supply.
“Yes, Miss Indigo.” She steps closer and my tummy twists tightly at the graveness darkening her stern features.
“As you know, she suffered a bisymmetrical laceration on her face.”
“Yes?” I raise my brows as I’ve been by both lady’s side since the attack. She’s kinda acting like I’ve neglected Indigo — whose name she couldn’t even seem to say. Carry on, ma’am. I think to myself. She can think what she likes. Maybe she’s in the category of people who think I only volunteered to help the earthquake survivors for publicity. Which is being splashed all over the tabloids now that I’ve not been allowed to return. Despite the statement put out to the press by Hassan’s staff saying the prince had literally forbidden me form any more activities until the culprits are capture the speculation still runs amok.
I have major opps in this fucking palace that’s becoming more and more obvious. When he returns, I’m thinking of asking him to take us with him when he goes back to Marrakesh.
“Ahem,” the doctor clears her throat and even tugs on her collar. “Well, this is highly improper because you are not her relative, but since she was acting a member of your household in her role and primary translator?—”
Ah, now I get it. He’s concerned with violating her privacy.
“It’s okay, Dr. Bint Aaziz, mum’s the word.” I press my forefinger to my lips, showing I’ll keep her secret.
She beams. “Ah, well. Miss Indigo has stated that she does not want her beauty restored. She’s refusing to go forward with any preparations to ready her skin for reconstruction. Claims her beauty has been a burden her entire life. She actually smiled when she saw herself for the first time after the bandages were removed.” The shock and horror she feels is conveyed in her expression. Taking a handkerchief out of her pocket, she dabs his forehead.
“It’s her decision, of course.” She quickly adds. “It’s just that His Royal Highness charged me with the young women’s care. This is would be a grave disappointment and failure.” Her eyes are imploring. She doesn’t want to displease Hassan. Doesn’t want the prince’s wrath to fall on her.
Am I the only person not scared of this man?
“I’ll talk to Indigo. If she still stands by her decision. I will let His Royal Highness know it is solely her decisions and that we both tried to convince her otherwise.”
Mollified, she nods then takes her leave.
Turning, I push open the door to the suite, covering my mouth when I see Fariq and Fi locked in a passionate kiss. Slowly backing out, I give them their privacy.
“So that’s the story,” Indigo tells me with way more cheerfulness than I would have after experiencing such a deep betrayal, and from her sister, no less.
“She needs help.” I say, clasping both her hands in mine.
“She does and she will, but I’m not going to be the one to save her this time. I’ve only enabled her. This one Thorne will have to figure out for herself. I used what little connections I had to secure my embassy position here with the help of my Love cousins, and I’m going to take full advantage of it.” She promises me.
“I really want you to think about your decision to not have your face attended to — but” I stop to add when she takes on a mutinous expression. The stitches covering the slash closing her still pretty face stretches from her temple, bisecting her right cheek, then beneath her nose to the lower half of her left cheek, and neck. “What ever you decide I support. I just want you to know the prince, and I have the best plastic surgeons in the world at your disposal.”
“I’m lucky to be alive,” she says in an upbeat tone. Then she squares me with a discerning stare. “If you’re uncomfortable with the way I look now, I understand.”
“Girl please,” I wave her words away and she giggles a little, but stop when her wound pulls. “I just don’t want you making rash decisions based on money or emotion.”
“I’m not. Promise.” Her smile remains steady but more importantly the determination in her eyes lets me know more than anything she means what she’s saying.
“Well, alright—” My words cut off in a gasp when I feel a stabbing pain in my pelvis. I feel a gush of wetness like when you stand up during the first days of your period.
Panic ripples through me.
“I-I’ll come and check on you later.” I manage seeing a small frown pucker on her face, but I don’t have time to reassure her as I make my way out of the room.
I feel the blood running down my legs as I hobble down the corridor from the guests suites to my own. By the time I cross the threshold, pain has me nearly doubled over and a blood trail follows me.
By the time I get to our bathroom, I’m dizzy and damn near crawling.
Collapsing on the cool tiles of the bathroom, I breathe a sigh of relief, pressing my burning skin against the marble.
I barely hear the alarm in the attendant’s voice when she calls out to me as darkness descends.