Leo Roland, one of the chiefs of the Cosa Nostra, invokes the Fifth Amendments repeatedly when called before a federal grand jury in New York concerning a fraudulent bankruptcy. But his attorney, Carl Munroe, has learned the U.S. has turned up a witness that could get the mafia leader indicted. Roland, following a meeting of the Cosa Nostra's council, orders a hit on the witness, which is carried out by Paul Clementi, nephew of Ed Clementi, the other primary Cosa Nostra leader. Ed Clementi is unaware his nephew is Cupid, so named because he shoots his victims twice in the heart. Inspector Erskine, in New York already on grand jury business, takes charge of the investigation. Roland taunts Erskine, which makes the FBI man all the more determined to nail the Mafia leader. Over the course of the probe, things become complicated. Chris Roland, Leo Roland's estranged daughter and now a nurse, has fallen in love with Paul Clementi. Chris is also a close friend of Flo Clementi, the estranged wife of Ed Clementi. Leo Roland holds Flo responsible for her husband turning "soft." Erskine's investigation leads to a secret Mafia weapons drop. Meanwhile, Leo Roland is willing to order a hit on anyone he feels threatens his power.
—Bill Koenig