Gabriel reached into his suit jacket and drew out a folded piece of thick paper, and he held it out toward my trembling hand.

“I made a promise to your sister,” he said, quieter now, “and I am going to keep it, no matter what it costs me with you.

But I need you to understand something before you read this.

It is much worse than whatever you are imagining right now.

It is worse than you think, Nora.

You had better sit down.”

Chapter 18 — The Contract