Violent City

Professional assassin Jeff Heston and his lover Vanessa are on holiday in the Virgin Islands when thugs led by Jeff's former associate Jerry Coogan attack them. Jeff is shot and left for dead, while Vanessa seems to flee with Coogan. Jeff is imprisoned for the shooting, and Steve, a lawyer for crime boss Al Weber, visits him to press for Vanessa's involvement, threatening a harsher sentence if he cooperates.

Months after the ambush, Jeff is imprisoned for the shooting. Steve, Weber's lawyer, visits him and continues to press for information about Vanessa. Jeff refuses to disclose her involvement, standing firm in his loyalty. The exchange deepens the feud that will drive the story forward.

Months later, Jeff is released from prison and travels to New Orleans. He is immediately accosted by Weber's thugs who want him to return as Weber's hitman. Jeff refuses and declares retirement, setting up a clash with Weber and his former boss.

With the help of his old friend Killain, Jeff tracks down Coogan at a motor race. He shoots out one of Coogan's tires, causing a fiery crash, and makes sure his presence remains unseen. The kill signals Jeff's return to violence while trying to stay under Weber's radar.

Jeff reunites with Vanessa at a debutante ball and confronts her about her past relationship with Coogan and his shooting. She explains she acted out of fear and now wants to rekindle their relationship. They decide to leave town together, but Weber's thugs arrive with incriminating photos to derail their plans.

Under blackmail, Jeff meets Weber, who has grown the enterprise into a semi-legal billion-dollar business and wants Jeff as his hatchet man. Steve offers Jeff a lucrative job in Venezuela, but he declines. Weber reveals that Vanessa is actually his wife, the two having eloped while Jeff was imprisoned.

Jeff confronts Vanessa at her hideaway in the wetlands. After rough sex, he takes her into the woods with plans to kill her. She begs for a quick and painless death, and he relents, the two admitting their loyalties are tangled. Vanessa reveals she married Weber for security and despises him.

The couple is ambushed by Killain, and Jeff shoots and kills him. He realizes Weber must have sent Killain to kill Vanessa, confirming the betrayal. The moment shifts the balance as Jeff starts to see through Weber's trap.

Jeff and Vanessa confront Weber in his office and destroy the negatives of the incriminating photos. Vanessa leaves the room, and Weber taunts that she is playing them all. Jeff kills Weber, ending the immediate threat.

After Weber's death, Jeff reaches their rendezvous only to find Vanessa missing and police arriving. Realizing he has been double-crossed, he narrowly escapes capture as officers close in.

It is revealed that Vanessa and Steve orchestrated the whole plan to eliminate Weber and take over his organization. Jeff was merely a convenient pawn in their game, used to clear the path to power.

As Vanessa and Steve ascend in their new skyscraper, Jeff shoots Steve from a rooftop across the street. Vanessa begs him to make it painless, but he kills her instead. Police converge on the rooftop and Jeff provokes a rookie officer into shooting him.