If you could save someone's life, would you? Anyone's? Ali's older brother has a swastika tattooed on his knuckles, a prison ID number for nearly beating an immigrant to death, and spent his teenage years ruthlessly persecuting Ali for being gay. Blood may be thicker than water, but Ali has spent most of his life desperate to prove he is nothing like Tony. A committed vegetarian, charity-supporter, and blood donor, Ali would do anything for anyone. Ali may share parentage with Tony, but he’s determined not to share anything else if he can help it. So when Tony contracts leukaemia, and Ali is the only match for the urgently-needed bone marrow transplant, Ali is caught between two equally awful choices: to refuse and condemn a man to death, or to donate. And in donating, save the life of the man who nearly murdered Ali's Iraqi boyfriend?

Thicker Than Bone

“Ow! Seriously, knock it off!” Yazid whined. “Or go for the other shin, Christ.”


Ali smiled, and toyed with the remains of his salad.


“We’ll get a two-bed,” Yazid said finally.


“It’s a…” Yazid trailed off, then put down his fork and reached out with both hands. Ali clasped them and squeezed them over the table, still frowning.


“You always…sounded like you wanted kids,” Ali said uncertainly.


“I do—I mean, Jesus, my entire gay crisis was because I was, like, thirteen and I didn’t think gay people had kids. I was distraught. Ever since my parents died, I wanted a family so bad, and I still do. I do want them—I want them with you—but…”


“But?” Ali prompted, rubbing Yazid’s fingers encouragingly. This was fine. He could work with butif Yazid at least wanted them. Ali didn’t mind but


Chapter 39