Kyle Tequila

And when the calls came, it wasn't so much of a question as a demand. And Kenny had no choice but to comply. As the pressures of his new reality mounted, he withdrew further and turned to cocaine to numb his pain. In this world, emotion was a weakness, and sympathy could get you killed.

And when the calls came, it wasn't so much of a question as a demand. And Kenny had no choice but to comply. As the pressures of his new reality mounted, he withdrew further and turned to cocaine to numb his pain. In this world, emotion was a weakness, and sympathy could get you killed.

If he wanted to stay alive in his new role within the outfit, he would need to dig deep down to the darkest part of his soul and abandon the light forever.

If he wanted to stay alive in his new role within the outfit, he would need to dig deep down to the darkest part of his soul and abandon the light forever.

I ask him what he means by going rogue.

I ask him what he means by going rogue.

I remembered something he used to tell my brother and I when we were kids. He would say, when he was young, that he was the bully of the bullies at his school. And if we ever saw someone getting bullied at our school, that we should step in and stop it. He was quite proud of this bit of parenting advice. And to be honest, I was quite proud of him too. I always admired him for it.

I remembered something he used to tell my brother and I when we were kids. He would say, when he was young, that he was the bully of the bullies at his school. And if we ever saw someone getting bullied at our school, that we should step in and stop it. He was quite proud of this bit of parenting advice. And to be honest, I was quite proud of him too. I always admired him for it.

And to this day, I think about those very words. I even taught that same lesson to my own kid. Defend the weak and have the courage to fight against those who would fight against you. And now, more than 20 years later, here is my dad telling me that he was hired to apply a version of that logic to the metaphorical bullies of the outfit. At least, that's what he's telling me.

And to this day, I think about those very words. I even taught that same lesson to my own kid. Defend the weak and have the courage to fight against those who would fight against you. And now, more than 20 years later, here is my dad telling me that he was hired to apply a version of that logic to the metaphorical bullies of the outfit. At least, that's what he's telling me.

It is very possible that he's just softening the blow about the kind of people that were in his crosshairs. I mean, does it really make me feel any better that the only people he killed were bad guys? Honestly, the answer is yes, it does. But the simple fact is, I will never really know if any of this stuff is true. All I can do is take him at his word.

It is very possible that he's just softening the blow about the kind of people that were in his crosshairs. I mean, does it really make me feel any better that the only people he killed were bad guys? Honestly, the answer is yes, it does. But the simple fact is, I will never really know if any of this stuff is true. All I can do is take him at his word.

And now, let me introduce you to the next character in our story. A feared boss within the outfit, and a man who would make an enormous impact on the life of young Kenny. Paul Taglia. Which, I will remind you, for the safety of everyone involved, is not his real name.

And now, let me introduce you to the next character in our story. A feared boss within the outfit, and a man who would make an enormous impact on the life of young Kenny. Paul Taglia. Which, I will remind you, for the safety of everyone involved, is not his real name.

We decide to break for the day. He's exhausted, and honestly, so am I. There's so much to unpack here and I don't even know where to begin. I started recording these interviews back in 2017 and it was apparent then that his health was failing him. Since then, he's continued to decline and I honestly don't know how long he has left.

We decide to break for the day. He's exhausted, and honestly, so am I. There's so much to unpack here and I don't even know where to begin. I started recording these interviews back in 2017 and it was apparent then that his health was failing him. Since then, he's continued to decline and I honestly don't know how long he has left.

He recently showed me an entire backpack full of prescriptions he's taken for a dozen or so conditions. He's pale, swollen, shakes uncontrollably. His legs are covered in red marks and bruises, and he has a hard time walking. He's about the furthest thing you can get from the fearless mafia heavy of his youth. What the hell happened to this man? How was he able to do the things he did?

He recently showed me an entire backpack full of prescriptions he's taken for a dozen or so conditions. He's pale, swollen, shakes uncontrollably. His legs are covered in red marks and bruises, and he has a hard time walking. He's about the furthest thing you can get from the fearless mafia heavy of his youth. What the hell happened to this man? How was he able to do the things he did?

What kind of person is my father? And what kind of person does that make me?

What kind of person is my father? And what kind of person does that make me?