The mob rules the cities. It also controls small towns like Wheeling, West Virginia, where it runs rampant, unchecked, and unlimited.

Johnny Mesagne exited the life, sort of, six years earlier. His estranged son, J.J. Jenkins, becomes intrigued by the work his father once did. J.J. eventually falls for the mistress of the boss, a man whose local authority is absolute.

Johnny’s ambivalence regarding J.J.’s choices thaws as his son slips deeper and deeper into Paul Verbania’s crew. J.J.’s dalliance with Leslie Fitzpatrick eventually complicates everyone’s interests, and safety.

Early on, the story reveals the final outcome for one of the men. The remainder of the book shows how it all came to be, eventually disclosing which one of them pays for their collective decisions with his life.

Inspired by true events, Father of Mine crafts a compelling and suspenseful tale by using actual activities of the organized crime ring in Wheeling, and by exploring the tensions that arise when a father who didn’t think he cared about his son’s chosen path realizes that he does. But the epiphany comes too late to keep his son from violating one of the most sacred rules of the business: never mess with the boss’s wife, or his girlfriend.

Mike Florio is one of the leading writers, reporters, and commentators covering the NFL. His website, ProFootballTalk.com, has served as the primary online clearinghouse for all NFL news and analysis for more than two decades.

His interest in the sport emerged at a young age, when his father worked as a bookie for the Wheeling mob, taking bets on every professional football game that was played.

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