On a romantic vacation in the Virgin Islands, professional hit man Jeff Heston and his lover, former model Vanessa Sheldon, are followed by two men. Jeff, an expert driver, races through the streets of the tiny village trying to elude the strangers but, after dropping Vanessa off safely, finds himself cut off by a Porsche driven by former client Harry Coogin. Confused, Jeff steps out to greet Coogin, who shoots him. When the pursuers arrive, Jeff has enough strength to disarm one of his assailants and after seizing the man’s gun, shoots them both, but passes out as he watches Vanessa drive away with Coogin. Some time later, Jeff, who was unable to convince authorities that he killed the men in self-defense, is in prison, recovering from his wounds. There he receives a visit from Steve, an attorney for an organization for which Jeff has often worked as a freelancer. Jeff insists that Steve defend him without mentioning Vanessa’s involvement, and Steve reluctantly agrees. Jeff omits mention of Coogin, who had hired him earlier to assassinate his wealthy uncle. Some time later, Steve successfully gains Jeff’s release and Jeff returns to his home in New Orleans, where he is met at the airport by two men representing millionaire gangster Al Webber. Jeff declines their job offer, declaring he has decided to retire, then drives home with his friend, fellow hit man Killain. The next day, Jeff pays Killain to find Coogin and Vanessa. Soon after, on Killain’s information, Jeff drives to Michigan to an international race car trial in which racing aficionado Coogin will participate. Carrying a miniature television and rifle in a picnic basket, Jeff settles on the outskirts of the extensive race course where he has a clear view of a portion of the track. Using the television to follow the commencement of the race, on the second lap Jeff cleanly shoots out Coogin’s tire, which sends the car crashing through a nearby wall after which it explodes. Back in New Orleans soon after, Jeff surprises Vanessa at a wedding she is attending. She apologizes for abandoning him and admits that she was with Coogin before she met Jeff, and that Coogin discovered their relationship but still hired Jeff to murder his uncle. The couple agrees to go away to Miami together, but upon meeting Vanessa at the airport, Jeff receives two separate envelopes with photos of him in Michigan firing at Coogin’s car. Although uncertain, Jeff returns to town and accuses Killain of taking the photos, but his old friend insists he is not involved and vows never to work with him again. Returning to Michigan, Jeff uses the photos to deduce the approximate location of the photographer and other clues lead him to a car mechanic in New Orleans. At the mechanic’s shop, however, the men who met him at the airport confront Jeff and reveal that the pictures were taken for Webber. Agreeing to meet Webber, Jeff goes to his posh private club where he is surprised to run into Steve, who offers to get him a job in Venuzuela working for the organization if Jeff does not see Webber. Jeff declines and meets Webber, who chastises him for lying about retiring. When Jeff insists that Coogin’s murder was personal, Webber explains he must control the criminal activity of those inside his territory. Webber then offers to hire Jeff full-time at a generous salary and benefits provided Jeff pledges complete loyalty. When Jeff hesitates, Webber includes an offer to Killain, but Jeff declines. Webber then takes Jeff downtown to a huge building he owns and, in his private penthouse, Jeff is stunned to see Vanessa, who Webber says is his wife. Webber explains that he knew about both Coogin’s and Jeff’s relationships with Vanessa and always has her followed. Afterward Jeff visits Steve and demands to know why he did not tell him about Vanessa’s marriage. Steve relates how Webber and Vanessa got together: While Jeff was in prison Steve was able to locate Vanessa, whom he arranged to meet at a nightclub. There, Vanessa confesses to being in love with Jeff, but also repulsed by his profession. After television reporter Tom Shandy approaches Vanessa and declares that he will ruin her modeling career by revealing her relationship with a gangster, Webber, listening nearby, intervenes and has Shandy fired. Webber then has Steve introduce him to Vanessa and soon after, Steve hears that they are married. In the present, Steve warns Jeff to stay away from Vanessa and suggests he should start a new life and offers his assistance. A few days later, at Vanessa’s invitation, Jeff meets her at a large mansion and although frustrated and angry with her, he spends the night, unaware that the house is under observation. After taking a motor boat through the bayou the next day, the couple walks through the woods and Vanessa admits she can sense Jeff’s rage at her. Turning her back to him, Vanessa tells Jeff to kill her if he must, but as she is afraid of pain, to make it quick. Although Jeff draws his gun, he in unable to fire and the couple return to the house where they have sex. Afterward, Vanessa tries to explain that she went with Webber because of his power and protection, but confesses she finds him disgusting. Hearing a noise outside, Jeff leaps to his feet and fires his gun through the front door. Outside, Jeff is dismayed to discover the body of Killain. The next day, Jeff calls on Webber who, believing Killain has killed Vanessa, admits his wife was getting too nosy about his business affairs. When Vanessa arrives, Webber is stunned. Jeff demands the negatives of the Michigan pictures that, on Webber’s instructions, Vanessa retrieves from a safe. Vanessa then burns the negatives and, promising to meet Jeff at a previously arranged hotel, departs. Webber warns Jeff that Vanessa is using him and reveals that the safe also held duplicate prints that she has taken. As Webber begins lecturing Jeff about going “soft” for a woman, Jeff shoots him. Meanwhile, Vanessa takes the prints to Steve, but refuses to allow him to call the police, stating that both she and Steve wanted Webber killed to gain access to his money. Later, Jeff goes to the hotel to meet Vanessa, only to find the police waiting there. After a wild chase through the city, Jeff disappears. Some weeks later, Steve and Vanessa prepare to make a presentation to the Webber company board. Steve reveals that he has learned that Jeff is out of the country working as a mercenary soldier, and Vanessa is pleased that he has survived. When Steve suggests that after a proper mourning period, he and Vanessa might marry, she flatly states that she is now the legal and rightful power behind the company and only one person can be in charge. While taking the glass elevator at the Webber building to the penthouse meeting, Steve is suddenly shot and killed. Knowing Jeff must be the assassin, Vanessa looks around at the surrounding rooftops and, knowing he is watching her, pleads for him not to let her suffer. Jeff shoots Vanessa between the eyes, then remains despondently sitting on the roof. Moments later, an investigating rookie police officer finds Jeff and after the gunman provokes him, kills him.