Editing Edward McHaggis (section)

=== Arrival to Los Santos ===
Edward McHaggis arrived in Los Santos in late 2023, summoned by his cousin Billy McBardigael. At the time, Edward was living in Southern Italy with his wife, Luciana. The couple had been struggling financially—Edward’s past income from the Cosa Nostra had dried up, and his exit from the Yakuza had left him with few friends and even fewer options. When Billy reached out with an offer to come to Los Santos, Edward didn’t hesitate. He saw it as the only move left—a final chance to reclaim the power and chaos that had once defined him.

His arrival was brash and unapologetic. Edward landed in the city with nothing but a half-packed duffel bag, a head full of plans, and a taste for reckless indulgence. Though short on funds, he carried a lifetime of underworld experience, and a readiness to start over by force if necessary.

He first met the others at a private house in Vinewood Hills. There, Edward introduced himself to the trio—[[Alexa Morrison]], Billy McBardigael, and [[Jim]]. The atmosphere was tense, with Alexa skeptical and sharp, Jim quiet but attentive, and Billy acting as the familiar bridge between them. While Alexa found Edward’s demeanor unrefined, she and the others saw something else in him—experience. Edward was no rookie. He carried the weight of Cosa Nostra and Yakuza years behind his eyes, and that wasn’t something easily dismissed.

Soon after, Edward joined the collective effort between Billy, Jim, and Alexa—an operational group known as [[the Locals]]. The Locals coordinated regional smuggling and protection activities, and Edward quickly proved to be an asset. He brought years of violent expertise and international black market connections to the table. In return, he gained capital, influence, and something else he hadn't had in years—momentum.

With profits from early operations, Edward began investing. First came the headquarters in Rancho, a rough district he felt at home in. It was a practical base, fortified and strategically placed for operations. But Edward didn’t stop there. Alongside the business, he threw himself into the nightlife. Lavish parties, loud music, fast cars—it was chaos wrapped in wealth, and he thrived in it.

Alexa, however, remained unimpressed. She tolerated Edward’s theatrics because they came with results, but privately, she saw his partying as a liability. In her mind, Edward was too unstable to be trusted fully—but she also knew better than to underestimate him. Beneath the chaos, Edward had survived worlds harsher than this one—and that meant something.

He didn’t see Los Santos as a city of dreams or second chances. To Edward, it was just another battlefield—and this time, he didn’t intend to lose.