It is 1970. The New Jersey mob is in its most powerful era. New Jersey, from a normal view, seems like a normal city; but from a wise man's view, it looks like a battleground. The reason why it looks like that is because one year ago, Don Mickey, the most powerful figure in the New Jersey underground, died from heart failure, leaving his seat empty. Since then, a silent war has started between the second and the third most powerful figures in the family.
John "Ghost" Gravatto and Jeje "Money" Saparri. Gravatto, a man known for his intelligent mind and his ability to make decisive choices and give the right orders in hard times, even while being under huge pressure, he was the Don's oldest friend. They grew up in the same neighborhood. Both their families have a connection to the mob, as both their dads were made men for the same family they now represent, the Cavani family. They were associates at the same time, and they were made men in the same year. When Don Mickey was promoted to family boss, he made Gravatto, who was at that time a capo, the new underboss. Since then, John has held the same position for more than 15 years. He proved more than once why he was the most qualified man for the position. As when the feds made a double hit on two of the most profitable operations, crippling the family cash flow and putting the family close to full extermination, Gravatto, with Mickey, were the ones who handled the situation, enforcing discipline between the men, boosting their morale, and making the family stand out stronger than before.
Saparri, on the other hand, is a ruthless man who grew up in the streets. His ruthlessness and street smarts are one of a kind. Also, him being a big earner for the family, there was a rumor that he used to take out the eyes and the tongue of his victims to send a clear message to not play with him. At the time, when the police found out the body of a man with no eyes or tongue, he was identified to be Big Mikey, a street gang leader who was in a beef with Saparri for not wanting to pay for his gang's protection. His loyalty to his godfather and savior, Don Mickey, is at its highest. He never refuses an order from the Don and never doubts his decisions. Without a doubt, he is ready at any moment to give his life away for his family and his Don. This is why he was the most qualified man to take the role of street boss.
Both of these two have big influence inside the family, and everything between them was good until the year 1969, when the legendary boss Mickey passed away due to heart complications at the age of 49, leaving behind him a big void that needed to be quickly filled. But this was not the case.
With no clear heir, and the two wise men having almost equal influence and power inside the family, and each one of them thinking that he is the legitimate one to take the place, a war will soon start, and everybody knows it.