Junior and Stefan arrive at the abandoned old port at night, where Stefan has tracked an invite-only, ultra-high-stakes poker game. Junior has brought in a trusted mercenary crew led by David to avoid mob entanglements and keep the operation quiet from Nico Senior. The location is desolate and dark, with decaying infrastructure and a ghostly derelict freight ship moored offshore hosting the game.

David deploys his four operators to overwatch positions around silos, tanks, and a barge, while Junior infiltrates a nearby building to observe. Using night vision, Junior and the team confirm multiple armed guards on the ship’s deck also equipped with goggles, making a stealth approach untenable. David proposes waiting until pre-dawn to exploit guard fatigue, but Junior spots a suited man on deck and prepares to identify him.

When the man turns, Junior recognizes him as Tyler, Josh’s former roommate. This changes Junior’s plan; he decides to approach openly, counting on the game’s need for discretion to prevent gunfire. Leaving his radio behind so as not to reveal backup, Junior walks to the ship, announces himself, and climbs aboard after being searched, losing his weapons in the process.

On deck, Junior corners Tyler at the stern and states his goal: to buy Patrick McKinney’s debt. Tyler claims McKinney owes him $2 million, describing McKinney as a reckless gambler who funds losses by exploiting tenants in his West Side buildings. Junior threatens to expose Tyler to both Josh and rival bookies if Tyler is inflating the amount, and he leverages a visible sniper laser from David’s team to underscore the threat.

Tyler probes whether Nico Senior knows about Junior’s move and tests Junior’s leverage by suggesting he could go directly to Nico Senior. The two reach a stalemate: Junior wants the debt but cannot pay $2 million outright, and Tyler refuses to sell for $1 million unless terms change. Tyler proposes becoming a silent partner—he will stay quiet and take a cut while Junior runs daily operations, citing his desire to diversify and maintain legitimate fronts.

Junior insists the target acquisition stay legitimate and not become a mob venture. Weighing cost, risk, and Tyler’s discretion and reach, Junior concedes he cannot afford the buyout alone. He agrees to Tyler’s partnership, they shake on it, and Tyler declares it will be “fun,” while Junior remains wary.