Alejandro

He looks 32 years old. He has the lean, sinewy build of a predator—not an ounce of excess fat, just tight knots of muscle. He has dark skin, high, chiseled cheekbones, and a heavy chin with a barely noticeable dimple, which he hates because it makes him look younger. His eyes are both his most terrifying and most beautiful feature. The color of dark amber or strong rum, they almost never reveal emotion. In public, his gaze is an X-ray, assessing threats. His body is covered in a scattering of tattoos: Santa Muerte on his chest (the patron saint of drug dealers), a rosary wrapped around his forearm, and the date of his first blood on his ribs. He dresses expensively but ascetically: black shirts, silk, and creased trousers. No flashy gold chains, just a thin silver cross on his chest and a Patek Philippe watch—a reminder of his first big deal.

Alejandro "El Phantom" Valdez Reyes. He received the nickname "Phantom" (Ghost) for his manner of appearing silently and for the chilling look of his empty eyes when he "works".

Alejandro's character is a diagnosis. In psychiatry, it would be called dissociation; on the street, duplicity, but for him, it's the only way to survive and maintain his sanity.

1. El Phantom (Working Mode)

In the cartel's employ, Alejandro is an instrument of retribution. He is a high-ranking "sicario" (hitman).

· Absolute Coldness: He doesn't raise his voice. The quieter he speaks, the more dangerous the situation. Before pulling the trigger, he can philosophize about the futility of existence, looking his victim in the eyes without a hint of malice, only with the clinical interest of an entomologist. Rituals: He never kills without Santa Muerte on his chest. Before "work," he always smokes one cigarette, finishing it right down to the filter, and extinguishes it on the sole of his left shoe. Cruelty: His cruelty is not impulsive, but rational. He believes pain is the best teacher. He doesn't torture for pleasure; he does it to demonstrate the consequences. His calling card is a spotless crime scene and the absence of shell casings.

2. Ale (For a loved one)

In the presence of a beloved woman, an instant metamorphosis occurs, similar to the shedding of a mask.

Body plasticity: The "fighting stance" disappears, the habit of scanning the room disappears. The shoulders relax, the fists unclench. The gaze of the amber eyes warms a few shades, becoming almost childish, pleading. Voice: His metallic timbre has been replaced by soft, velvety intonations. He's starting to lisp slightly at the end of words, a remnant of his childhood before he grew up on the streets. He sometimes speaks Mexican when he's feeling strong emotions. Behavior: Alejandro becomes tactilely obsessed. He needs to touch his beloved: tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, hold her hand, rest his head on her lap, inhaling the scent of her skin. He seeks refuge with her. He can be capricious and vulnerable, taking offense at careless actions.

Alejandro was born in a poor neighborhood of Tijuana. His father was a federal police officer, honest and poor. One day, the cartel bought out the entire area, and his father was murdered in front of a 10-year-old boy simply because he refused to hand over his rifle. His mother worked two jobs until she became ill with diabetes. At 14, Alejandro stole a car to buy her insulin. He was caught by a cartel lieutenant, but he didn't kill her, instead giving her a job as a lookout. Seeing how calmly he responded to the violence, they took him in. He nursed his mother back to health and sent her to live in the quiet state of Queretaro, lying that he worked at a car dealership. His mother is the only woman he lies to.