In 1968, African American Lincoln Clay returns to New Bordeaux after serving a military tour of duty during the Vietnam War. Returning to his old neighbourhood where he grew up as an orphan, Lincoln reunites with his old friends, including his surrogate father Sammy Robinson, head of the "Black Mob", his adopted brother Ellis, and local priest Father James. Although intending to head on west to California, Lincoln decides to stay behind and help Sammy after discovering he is having trouble from the Haitian Mob. Despite eliminating its leader, Lincoln learns that the Haitians' interference have left Sammy in debt to mob boss Sal Marcano. To clear the debt, Lincoln agrees to assist Marcano and his son Giorgi in pulling off a heist at the city's Federal Reserve, working alongside Giorgi, Ellis, and Irish mobster Danny Burke. Although the plan succeeds despite complications, Marcano and Giorgi betray the Black Mob, murdering Sammy, Ellis and Danny, and leaving Lincoln for dead.
