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

He hooked his hands behind Ali’s back, and moulded himself into the hug.


“Missed you,” he admitted quietly, and fingers scratched lightly at the nape of his neck.


“Missed you, too. Sorry about blowing my lid. Do you want to maybe get back to the plan we had? Dinner, film, sofa? Cuddle?”


“Sure,” Yazid said, sliding free. Ali caught at his elbows and held him fast. Yazid stilled, caught by those serious blue eyes.


“I know I don’t quite understand what it’s like for you—Tony calling you those things, I mean,” Ali explained. “And I can’t ever promise I won’t be furious that he does, but…I’m trying, alright?”


“I just don’t want you ever believing him, or thinking I agree with him, or—”


“Don’t be daft,” Yazid retorted briskly. “It’s just—like I said, Ali. You can’t spend all your time being pissed off at guys like that. It doesn’t change anything, it doesn’t do anyone any good, and it’s a waste of time. Save the battle for where it really makes a difference, you know?”


Chapter 49