Malone is targeted for murder by two gangland factions just as he reaches a decision to dramatically change his life.

Disguised as priests, two gangsters burst in on an Irish communion breakfast to kill bootlegger Pauly Gaughan, slaying several children in the process. Sure that Capone is responsible, a rage-crazed Malone violently interrogates Vito Stellini, and is about to kill the gangster when Ness stops him. Stellini tells Capone what happened, and all agree that Malone is becoming a major problem.

Later, Ness attends the wake for one of the slain children, where his father, Coffee Ryan, announces plans to kill the men who killed his son. Ness puts Ryan under surveillance, but realizes Malone poses a bigger threat. He finds his friend in a speakeasy, drunkenly threatening Capone and his cohorts. Later that night, Malone is assaulted and brutally beaten by four anonymous men, only to be saved from death by an Italian widow.