Detroit, Michigan, 1976: Violence and crime roam the streets daily looking for new victims to punish, and our main character is no exception. Eighteen—year—old Victor Carez used to live the high and mighty life with his father's multi—million dollar company. But after its collapse, Victor and his parents are forced to move into Detroit to relocate.
Victor has no friends, no one likes his family for bankrupting so many hard—working families, and on top of it all, the collapse of his father's company sends Victor's father into a dark world of alcohol and abuse and his mother reverts to a daydreaming alcoholic state.
Victor meets with the Chief of Police every Wednesday night to get the one nourishing meal he deserves. Their friendship is soon shattered by a young man named Danny Ponchello, whose father is rumored to be a mafia crime boss in Detroit.
Danny saves Victor at school from constant bullying, and befriends him. Victor says over and over that he doesn't want to be in the gang, but eventually, he dives face first into the criminal underworld and struggles to make his way out through a dark and disturbing two—year time span full of crime, hate, and rage.