Editing Edward McHaggis (section)

=== Birth of Aye or Die ===
After establishing his headquarters and gaining traction through smuggling operations with the Locals, Edward began looking toward the next step in his criminal career. He wanted more than territory—he wanted a private army, something disciplined, mobile, and loyal. With Billy’s help and inspired by the organizational blueprint of Alexa’s [[Rattlesnakes MC]], Edward founded his own outfit: [[Claymore MC|Aye or Die MC]].

Unlike Alexa’s club, which operated with a council and a measure of shared influence, Aye or Die was built around one principle—absolute control. Edward would serve as president and sole authority, ruling the MC with an iron fist. The club’s primary purpose was twofold: protect Edward’s growing enterprise and manufacture narcotics on an industrial scale. It was not a social club—it was a war machine disguised as one.

Following the [[wikipedia:2020–2021_U.S._troop_withdrawal_from_Afghanistan|end of American involvement in Afghanistan]] two years ago, many soldiers found themselves aimless, jobless, and angry. Edward saw opportunity in their displacement. He recruited them in waves, offering purpose, structure, and pay. These men, trained in combat and operations, became the muscle of Aye or Die—loyal to Edward, bonded through shared scars and discipline. Their military background gave Edward a tactical edge few others in Los Santos could match.

With the strength of the MC behind him, Edward began expanding aggressively. He bought up property across the southern region of the city—acquiring locations in the LSIA docks, Strawberry, La Mesa, parts of Cypress Flats, and other key industrial corridors. With the exception of LSIA proper, much of the southern criminal underworld slowly came under his influence. These areas became hubs for drug production, storage, and movement—protected around the clock by his veterans-turned-outlaws.

To Edward, Aye or Die was more than a club—it was the backbone of his empire. And unlike the Locals, where influence was shared, here there was no compromise. Edward was in full control.