In Prohibition-era Boston, World War I veteran Joe Coughlin, son of a prominent police captain, becomes disillusioned with society's constraints and turns to a life of crime. Initially involved in low-level heists, Joe’s criminal activities catch the attention of the powerful local crime boss, Albert White. However, matters complicate when Joe falls for Albert’s mistress, Emma Gould. This dangerous liaison leads Joe into a devastating betrayal, propelling him into the crosshairs of both the law and rival gangsters. Forced to leave Boston, Joe relocates to Tampa, Florida, seeking to establish his own bootlegging operation and exact revenge.

In Tampa, Joe allies with the influential Cuban mob and quickly rises to power in the rum-running business. He navigates threats from local Ku Klux Klan members, competing crime lords, and suspicious law enforcement officers. Alongside his trusted colleagues and forming romantic ties with Graciela Corrales, a member of the Cuban community, Joe attempts to expand his empire while grappled with the ethical dilemmas of his violent lifestyle. As Joe's power and responsibilities grow, so do the challenges that threaten his ambition and survival in a world governed by corruption and brutality.