Here we meet the three major players of the series: Lt. Mike Torrello, head of Chicago's Major Crime Unit(MCU); Ray Luca, a young hood about to make his mark on the underworld; and David Abrams, an idealistic public defender trying to bury his Mob-connected roots. As the story unfolds Torrello is working with to bring down members of Chicago's underworld while Luca is taken under the wing of Manny Weisbord; one of Chicago's most powerful crime figures. As events proceed Torrello and Luca each become aware of the other's existence. Torello realizes that there is a new player that he must bring down.

With Torello's MCU hunting a psychopath, Luca plots jewel heists and the takeover of a sports-gambling operation.