In 2013, Ken Tekiela revealed a secret to his son that he had been keeping for over 20 years.

At the time, he had been battling a crippling heroin addiction for about a decade and had been estranged from the 28-year-old for about five years. But his firstborn, who believed things were worsening for the patriarch, put him in a detox facility to help him get clean.

“He relapsed a few times, but his journey to recovery was positive,” Kyle Tekiela told Fox News Digital. “Once he felt like he had recovered . . . I think that opened up some doors for him. And I think it gave him the confidence to tell me. But it was a huge shock. It was like, ‘Did I hear that correctly?’”

Ken Tekiela tells his story in “Crook County.” (Kyle Tekiela)

“This is not just another story about the mob,” said Kyle. “It’s a journey of discovery between a father and a son. . . . There’s a lot of growth. And the thing is, a lot of people don’t want to talk about their feelings. They feel it’s weak to talk about your feelings or to seek therapy. But by watching my dad essentially treat me like a therapist and tell me everything – I could see the weight lift off of him.”

“I think it’s so important for families to talk about hard truths,” said Kyle. “As soon as you start keeping secrets, that’s when it all falls apart.”