Powerful mob boss Mr. Brown (Richard Conte) has beguiled society woman Susan Lowell (Jean Wallace) under his thumb. Susan, meanwhile, has bewitched crooked police detective Lt. Leonard Diamond (Cornel Wilde). Devious Diamond is determined to destroy their twisted love triangle and bag his obsession by bringing her beau Brown down. Police Capt. Peterson orders him to stop the investigation, detecting that Diamond's interest is more personal than professional. When Susan's lust trumps her wits, she inadvertently gives her number one fan Diamond the break he's been waiting for-and he resumes blackmailing, harassment and bogus bookings in an attempt to nail Brown as a top mob financier. Brown, however, isn't about to buckle and calls upon sadistic duo Mingo and Fante-two infamous hit men with a notorious bond-to creatively work Diamond over.