Alex Stern, #2
Hell Bent
by Leigh Bardugo
Contents
Chapter 9
Overview
In a flashback to last summer, Alex returns to Los Angeles to face Eitan. He reveals pawn-shop footage of Alex after the Ground Zero killings, confirming his suspicions. After Tzvi attacks, Alex channels a Gray’s strength to fight back. Impressed, Eitan spares her and declares they now have business.
Summary
Alex flies to Los Angeles, haunted by memories of Ground Zero and Hellie. She checks on her mother from a distance, then visits the demolished site of her old apartment, mourning Hellie and the lives erased there. She spends the evening at the Getty, delaying a night meeting with Eitan.
At Eitan’s Mulholland house, Alex adopts a harmless facade. Eitan feeds her and prods about Ariel’s unsolved murder, implying the crime was sloppy but strangely rumorless. He plays Tom Petty while suggesting Len was never truly Alex’s friend, testing her reactions.
Eitan reveals pawn-shop sidewalk footage from the night of the killings: Alex, half-dressed and clutching the broken bat, moving through the dark. Before she can deny it, Tzvi chokes her from behind. Alex reaches for a nearby Gray—an old party girl—and channels the Gray’s drug-bright strength to wrench free and briefly stagger Tzvi.
At Eitan’s command, the fight stops. Seeing Alex’s power firsthand, Eitan admits he’d doubted a “little girl” could cause such damage but now knows better. He hadn’t planned to kill her; this was an audition. The chapter ends with Eitan declaring that he and Alex have business.
Who Appears
- Alex SternReturns to LA; mourns Hellie; confronted with video proof of killings; channels a Gray’s strength to survive Tzvi and impresses Eitan.
- EitanLA crime boss; lures Alex, shows pawn-cam footage; orders a test via Tzvi; decides Alex is useful and proposes business.
- TzviEitan’s bodyguard; ambushes Alex in a chokehold; fights her until Eitan calls it off; surprised by her unnatural strength.
- Mira SternAlex’s mother; glimpsed power-walking, seemingly content and safe, prompting Alex’s conflicted longing and protectiveness.
- HellieDead friend; central to Alex’s grief and memories; her presence symbolizes what was lost at Ground Zero.
- LenAbusive ex and dealer; discussed as not truly Alex’s friend; part of the Ground Zero killings.
- ArielEitan’s cousin; killed at Ground Zero; his unsolved death drives Eitan’s investigation of Alex.
- AlitzaEitan’s cook; provides the cherry pie Alex eats during the tense meeting.