He tried to think how many men he had killed and could not remember. How many do you need to kill before you lose count? he wondered.

Sir Stephen Mendal, head of MI6, looked up from the report. Apparently an unknown secret organisation had been recruiting ex-MI6 agents, specifically those that specialised in 'wet work', the nasty side of the business.

One of these old employees had just been shot dead by the authorities whilst robbing a bank in Switzerland. He had to know more.

What was this organisation up to and why employ such specialists? He decided he needed a spy. On his desk were a number of manila folders all marked 'Top Secret' in thick red ink.

He went through each of them in detail before selecting one, Paul Bradley's, a merciless killer with innumerable hits to his credit. A lonely, hard, clever man coming to the end of his days in the field.

Perfect, thought Mendal. But at this time in his life would Bradley be willing to go it alone, to play the sacrificial lamb? If not then perhaps he should just throw him to the wolves and see what happens.

So begins the hunt for the New Templars, a ruthless organisation with seemingly unlimited resources out to change the world as we know it. .