Scarification by E.M. Lindsey

Missing his dominant hand and half his face covered in scars, Miguel Ruiz can kiss his dreams of a happy future goodbye. He resigns himself to a life of servitude in a badly run club until one day, a tattoo artist in a random bar sees both talent and a future in the scarred artist. He makes an offer Miguel would be a fool to turn down, and Miguel decides it’s finally time to start living for himself, even with the ten tons of baggage he’s carrying on his shoulders.

If anyone in the world can understand secrets, it’s Amit Baqri. Growing up bisexual, Deaf, and femme in a conservative Muslim family, Amit keeps his true self close to his chest. He’s spent most of his life conforming to others from the way he communicates to the way he presents himself to others, but the weight of it all is starting to crush him. He understands his familial obligations—taking care of his mother is his top priority, and his sisters are second. But when Amit sets eyes on the gorgeous tattoo artist with one hand and a waterfall of scars, his life is suddenly turned upside down.

Will Amit and Miguel find a way to shed the weight of their pasts to be happy together, or will assumptions and expectations leave them forever trapped in a closet of their own making?