Kyle Tequila

When the pills stopped being enough to satisfy his addiction, he turned to heroin, which isn't as easy to hide.

When the pills stopped being enough to satisfy his addiction, he turned to heroin, which isn't as easy to hide.

I don't need to rehash the pain we all went through during this period of self-destruction, but as the years went on and the family fell apart, Holly, Corey, and myself eventually separated ourselves from Ken, physically and emotionally. After all the pain and abuse, what else could we do?

I don't need to rehash the pain we all went through during this period of self-destruction, but as the years went on and the family fell apart, Holly, Corey, and myself eventually separated ourselves from Ken, physically and emotionally. After all the pain and abuse, what else could we do?

I had been estranged from him for nearly five years when he finally reached out to me for help in 2013, and I checked him into rehab in California. And I always wondered, why now? What change had occurred to make him suddenly surrender himself to getting clean? I think Ken's brother Rich may have the answer.

I had been estranged from him for nearly five years when he finally reached out to me for help in 2013, and I checked him into rehab in California. And I always wondered, why now? What change had occurred to make him suddenly surrender himself to getting clean? I think Ken's brother Rich may have the answer.

Over the last 10 years, as my dad sobered up and embarked on the long, painful path to healing, he began to open up to me for the first time. And even though the truth is so much more fucked up than I could have ever imagined, I'm thankful for this opportunity to finally see the man I call father for who he really is.

Over the last 10 years, as my dad sobered up and embarked on the long, painful path to healing, he began to open up to me for the first time. And even though the truth is so much more fucked up than I could have ever imagined, I'm thankful for this opportunity to finally see the man I call father for who he really is.

Throughout this entire process, I have been constantly shocked about how I can still be constantly shocked. Whenever I learn some new awful truth about the world my dad lived in, my first reaction is, how is that even possible? But then a second, even more powerful reality hits me, that I have been completely sheltered from the evil that plagued my dad's entire existence.

Throughout this entire process, I have been constantly shocked about how I can still be constantly shocked. Whenever I learn some new awful truth about the world my dad lived in, my first reaction is, how is that even possible? But then a second, even more powerful reality hits me, that I have been completely sheltered from the evil that plagued my dad's entire existence.

If his goal was to keep this world away from us, then he succeeded. And despite everything else, I'm grateful to him for that much. I also want to express my deep gratitude to the people featured in this story, who were so gracious and brave to open themselves up to me during these difficult interviews.

If his goal was to keep this world away from us, then he succeeded. And despite everything else, I'm grateful to him for that much. I also want to express my deep gratitude to the people featured in this story, who were so gracious and brave to open themselves up to me during these difficult interviews.

To my amazing mom for her strength and perseverance during these last 20 years as she watched her life crumble around her. To my best friend and my brother, Corey, who still carries the weight of our father's abuse. To my Uncle Rich for crawling back into his painful past and shedding some light on their own abusive childhood. And, of course, for saving my dad's life that day in 2013.

To my amazing mom for her strength and perseverance during these last 20 years as she watched her life crumble around her. To my best friend and my brother, Corey, who still carries the weight of our father's abuse. To my Uncle Rich for crawling back into his painful past and shedding some light on their own abusive childhood. And, of course, for saving my dad's life that day in 2013.

To Jeff Cohen of the Chicago Tribune for sharing his unmatched expertise on all things mafia. And finally, to my dad's old buddy Mike, who also wanted to share some words of gratitude.

To Jeff Cohen of the Chicago Tribune for sharing his unmatched expertise on all things mafia. And finally, to my dad's old buddy Mike, who also wanted to share some words of gratitude.

So, where does that leave us now? Who the hell knows? I suppose it depends on who you ask. My brother Corey and my uncle Rich have already made up their minds.

So, where does that leave us now? Who the hell knows? I suppose it depends on who you ask. My brother Corey and my uncle Rich have already made up their minds.

My mom has a similar take, but focuses on the good.

My mom has a similar take, but focuses on the good.