Nick Bracco comes from a proud Sicilian family, right down to the pasta and meatballs on Sunday afternoons. When his cousin Tommy becomes involved with a large crime family, Nick is indifferent. Yes he’s the leading counterterrorist agent with the FBI, but there’s little chance of crossing legal paths with his cousin, so what’s the fuss?

The real issue begins when Nick’s brother, Phil, is kidnapped by Kurdish terrorist, Kemel Kharrazi. Nick needs help from someone who can navigate seamlessly through the underworld and Tommy’s his best bet. Of course the can of worms spills over like a giant pot of spaghetti and Tommy is soon imbedded within Nick’s crime-fighting team.

Nick still plays within the limits of the Constitution, until his wife also becomes a target and he transforms from fair-minded law enforcer to vigilante. The transformation is completed when Bracco hands over confidential files to his cousin in order to find Kharrazi and save his family.

With hit men and lawmen joining forces, Kharrazi reveals his true agenda: he wants President Merrick to remove 20,000 U.S. peacekeeping troops from his homeland in Turkey. This will allow Kharrazi to divide Turkey along ethnic lines. Kharrazi has offshore missiles aimed at the White House and he’s given the President until midnight to announce the removal of troops or the missiles will be fired.

An hour before he is about to acquiesce and announce the withdrawal of troops, President Merrick calls Nick for an update. Bracco convinces the Commander-in Chief to cancel the press conference. He assures the President that Kharrazi has been captured and the missiles that were destined for the White House have been disarmed. The President is grateful for the news.

Unfortunately it’s all a lie.

That leaves Nick thirty minutes to capture Kharrazi and disarm the missiles before the White House and his career both burst into flames.

Nick Bracco is good at his job, but is he that good?