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

And not about the donation, but about leaving.


“Because you’re happy,” Yazid said flatly. “And you know, ever since the doctor told you that you were a match, I don’t think you’ve really been happy.”


Ali swallowed, and curled his fingers until Yazid’s were wrapped around his fist. He scratched his nails lightly against Yazid’s palm, and nodded. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I think you’re right.”


Ali laughed. “Yeah. No families. No…fucked up stupid nonsense. Just you and me.”


Just him and Yazid. Forever. That was it—no more obstacles, no more fear—and suddenly the rush of happiness and plans spilled over and converged.


“Get married,” Ali said. “Get started. It’s just about us now, and we’ve made all these plans, so let’s start them.”


Yazid laughed. “Are you proposing to me in the back of a taxi?”


“Best place for it!” the cabbie yelled from the front.


Chapter 99